2019 Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand, Marlborough, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$25.00USD

This was the wine that put New Zealand wines on the worldwide map.  That was twenty or thirty years ago (the winery was actually founded in 1985), and it had been a while since I have tried this wine.  And, it is still excellent.  Light green/gold in color.  The nose has tropical fruits and limes.  Very nice.  Clean.  On the palate, this is medium bodied.  Just a hint of sweetness.  Tropical fruits with slight citrus.  Enough acidity.  Nice finish.  This drinks easily on its own.  It will work well with lighter foods, maybe a fruit salad?  Drink over the next three to five years.  

2018 Robert Mondavi Winery Fumé Blanc, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

Robert Mondavi long ago started calling his Sauvignon Blanc as Fume Blanc, but it is the same wine.  This is always a quality Sauvignon Blanc for a fair price.  This is actually 87% Sauvignon Blanc and 13% Semillon.  Pale golden in color with some green and copper hues to it.  Clear and bright.  The nose is pretty with oranges, limes, minerals and with air, a bit of dust and mint.  This has a rich, creamy texture that gives it a presence that most Sauvignon Blancs don't have  On the palate, there is lemon-lime, melon and a quality that is sort of like mint tooth paste (in a good way).  Very

2019 Flora Springs Soliloquy Vineyard White Wine, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review,

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

Soliloquy is the name for Flora Springs’ proprietary Sauvignon Blanc clone.  The bottle is labelled as white wine but it is a blend of predominantly Sauvignon Blanc, with Chardonnay, and Malvasia.  It is the top of the line white from this winery.  It is silvery/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is pretty with floral notes and some cara cara oranges.  On the palate, this has a lovely creamy texture.  Very lush.  Flavors of bitters, limes and slight cream soda.  Dry.  A hint of almond on the finish.  This is a very polished white wine and needs another year or so but should be good

2018 Flora Springs Sauvignon Blanc, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$30.00USD

Flora Springs make a variety of wines.  This is 100% Sauvignon Blanc from the Crossroads Vineyard in Oakville in Napa.  It is silvery/green/gold in color.  The nose is very nice with lemon-lime, sweetgrass and minerals.  It has a very nice, slightly oily texture.  Just a hint of residual sugar offset by tart limes.There is a slight chalky quality as well.  Overall, this is very clean and refreshing.  It has a long finish with some warmth.  It would actually work well with grilled asparagus, always a tough food pairing, and lots ot lighter foods or on its own.  Drink this over the next year.

2018 Domaine Du Castel La Vie Blanc du Castel, White Blend, Israel, Judean Hills, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$22.00USD

This wine and it's Red counterpart are some of the best values from Israel.  This is a blend of 50% Sauvignon Blanc, 45% Chardonnay and 5% Gewurztraminer.  It is basically the third level wine in their hierarchy.  Light golden in color with a touch of green.  The nose is nice with citrus, slight orange peel and slight floral notes.  Very steely.  On the palate this is light bodied.  Very crisp and refreshing.  It has some depth but it more about raciness than complexity.  Very food friendly or on its own.  A nice match for soft cheeses to start a casual evening outside.  This probably shoul

2016 Château Climens, France, Bordeaux, Barsac, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$75.00USD

Always a treat to try this wine which is one of the best, if not the best, wines made in Barsac (next to Sauternes).  This is young but gorgeous.  Light golden in color.  The nose is so pretty with cantaloupe and honey and a slight salinity.  On the palate, this is sweet, not cloying with an unctuous texture.  A nice bit of acidity to keep it lively though not a lot.  The melon and honey come thru to the palate along with some apricot.  Long finish.  This will easily last another 25 years or more if well stored.  It drinks great on its own but also would work well with a less sweet (and non

2017 Château Smith Haut Lafitte Le Petit Blanc, France, Bordeaux, Pessac-Leognan, Wine Reviewc

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

This was consumed against a 2016 La Carte de Haut Brion Blanc and the crowd seemed split.  Although these are very similar wines on paper, they were quite different in the glass and everyone seemed to have a clear favorite.  An 80/20 split of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon.  This is a rounder, softer wine with a bigger profile.  It is light golden in color.  The nose has plenty of vanilla with some lemon creme and a slight floral quality.  On the palate, this is soft with tart red apples and some peach.  A bit of minerality.  Nice finish.  This is drinking well now although I don't know that

2016 La Clarté de Haut-Brion Blanc, USA, France, Bordeaux, Pessac-Léognan, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$85.00USD

What an outstanding wine.  This is the second wine of Haut Brion Blanc.  My first time trying this.  it is a blend of 76.3% Sémillon and 23.7% Sauvignon Blanc.  It has a silvery/pale yellow/gold color to it.  Very pretty nose with lemons, chervil and minerals.  On the palate, the lemons come thru along with some vanilla and minerality.  Very crisp with nice acidity.  Pin point focus.  Of course this is very young, but it is delicious.  On a warm summer evening, this goes down very easily.  This is expensive and as good as this is now, it should improve.  I would cellar for three to five yea

1989 Château Suduiraut, France, Bordeaux, Sauternes, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1989
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$55.00USD

Always a pleasure to taste an aged Sauternes from a top producer.  This is iced tea in color.  The nose is slightly oxidized with honeys and slight apricots both fresh and dried.  On the palate, this is thinner than expected.  Slightly sweet.  Tastes of slightly burnt honey (in a good way).  Long finish.  This is cetainly past prime but still provides a lot of enjoyment.  It probably should be consumed sooner than later.  It will work well on its own or with a not too sweet fruit dessert.  

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