Tariquet Classic Ugni Blanc Colombard 2010

Tariquet Classic Ugni Blanc Colombard 2010

Origin: Côtes de Gascogne, France
Blend: Ugni Blanc (70%), Colombard (30%)
Alcohol Content: 11.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: January 2012
Purchase Price: $7.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Medium yellow/gold in color, this wine has aromas of tree fruit (notably peaches and apricots) with notes of flowers. Very smooth on the palate, the fruit flavors are similar to the nose, nicely balanced at first, though a little too acidic as the finish develops, which has some unusual notes of under-ripened fruit.

Our rating: This is a rather complex wine, but most definitely not a sipping one. It seems to need food to help round out the various elements present. We served our bottle with roasted turkey breast, mashed potatoes and steamed green vegetables, a good if safe choice. Poultry seems like the best pairing here, but we could easily see it accompanying pork dishes as well. We previously reviewed the Tariquet Classic Ugni Blanc-Colombard 2008, emphatically stating that it was really a seafood wine not to be paired with poultry, quite the opposite of what we're suggesting here! Nevertheless, we rated the 2008 vintage as Above Average, about the same as we rate this year's bottle.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: Chateau du Tariquet.

Clifford Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Clifford Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Origin: Marlborough, New Zealand
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: February 2012
Purchase Price: $9.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Pale gold with silver highlights, this wine has aromas of grapefruit, gooseberry, and grass with notes of green vegetables and herbs. The citrus flavor on the palate is crisp but not tart, followed by a slight but brisk minerality that develops into the finish. The finish itself is a little flat and ever so slightly bitter.

Our rating: This is a refined wine with good structure and balance. Very typical of this varietal from New Zealand, it is moderately aggressive but doesn't cross any boundaries. We served our bottle with simply prepared white fish, a nice choice. We were slightly disappointed in the finish, which some might consider "racy" but reminded us of citrus zest used in excess. We previously rated the Clifford Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2009 Excellent and the present vintage is close but doesn't quite deserve the same rating; we rate it Above Average, Nearly Excellent.

Taste profile from the winemaker: The wine possesses a light straw colour and tropical aromas of guava, melon and citrus. The palate exhibits the same fine flavours followed by a crisp, dry, flinty finish.

Winery website: Clifford Bay: New Zealand Wine.

Terranoble Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Terranoble Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Origin: Central Valley, Chile
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: February 2012
Purchase Price: $7.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: A pale greenish-yellow in color, this wine has very strong aromas of freshly cut tropical fruit (pineapple, mango, banana) with slight citrus notes. The citrus makes more of an appearance on the palate, which is crisp and fairly tart though a little thin on flavor. The finish adds some citrus zest and is moderately long.

Our rating: Chile continues to distinguish itself by crafting Sauvignon Blancs in a very approachable manner, and different from its cousins in France, New Zealand, and the US. This example is typical of the region, maybe not one of its better efforts, but very drinkable and readily paired with a wide variety of cuisines. We would suggest seafood as a first choice with which to serve this wine, but it is by no means limited to this. We rate it a bit better than Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: An attractive pale yellow color with greenish tones, it has intense aromas of tropical fruits, especially pineapple. Is a very fresh wine, dry and equilibrated. It has a good structure and a nice natural acidity which has a long permanence in mouth.

Winery website: None found.

Telmo Rodríguez Basa Blanco Rueda 2009

Telmo Rodríguez Basa Blanco Rueda 2009

Origin: Rueda, Spain
Blend: Verdejo (85%), Viura (10%), Sauvignon Blanc (5%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: February 2012
Purchase Price: $7.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: A light lemon yellow in color with gold highlights, this wine has aromas of green apple accompanied by slight grassy notes. A crisp apple character is also present on the palate, but quickly and somewhat surprisingly softens. There is a good acid balance into the finish, which adds a touch of minerality and is relatively short but very clean.

Our rating: We served our bottle with a mildly spicy chicken and rice dish, with which it paired quite nicely. We think most simply prepared meals with poultry or pork would be enhanced with this wine; we don't see seafood as a good match. We're guessing the small amounts of Viura and Sauvignon Blanc added some depth and interest to this wine that wouldn't otherwise be there. We really enjoyed it, and rate it Above Average, Nearly Excellent … and at just $8, a very good value.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: Compañía de Vinos Telmo Rodríguez.

Stella Pinot Grigio 2010

Stella Pinot Grigio 2010

Origin: Umbria, Italy
Blend: Pinot Grigio (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: January 2012
Purchase Price: $7.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: A pale golden-green in color, this wine has aromas of citrus and herbs with some vegetal (bell pepper) notes. The flavor profile has a nice acidic balance, with citrus being the dominant character and maybe a touch of something tropical for a hint of sweetness. A bit of crisp minerality is introduced into the finish, which is of moderate length.

Our rating: This is a very versatile wine, from one that can be enjoyed as is to one paired with a wide variety of dishes and cuisines. We chose lighter fare to serve our bottle with, cold roasted turkey sandwiches, freshly sliced tomatoes, and home-made potato chips, and found it to be a refreshing addition to the meal. We previously rated the Stella Pinot Grigio 2007 to be about Average, but we think this effort is much better, rating it on the very high side of Above Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: Aromas of lemon-lime citrus combine with zesty acidity and hints of mineratlity to create a light refreshing wine.

Winery website: None found. Wine information take from US distributor's website.

Dry Creek Fumé Blanc 2010

Dry Creek Fumé Blanc 2010

Origin: Sonoma County, California
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: January 2012
Purchase Price: $9.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: This wine has light aromas of citrus, bell pepper and asparagus. The palate exhibits a similar flavor profile, maybe leaning a bit towards the citrus (grapefruit, lime). A slight minerality develops into the relatively brief finish.

Our rating: We are often a bit suspicious of California Sauvignon Blancs, especially those marketed as "fumé blancs", as these tend to be so overly oaked that they are almost undrinkable. But this wine "harkens back to the early days of Fumé Blanc at Dry Creek Vineyard" and received no oak … and it shows … and we appreciate it. We served our bottle with a meal of grilled chicken and asparagus, a good choice. We think it could pair well with most simply prepared poultry, seafood, or vegetarian dishes. We faulted it for being a little thin and lacking depth, but overall, we rate it well Above Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: At first swirl, pungent grassy aromas framed by kaffir limes leap from the glass. On the palate, the wine displays racy citrus characters along with granny smith apples, Meyer lemon and orange zest. The grassy elements repeat on the finish with acidity that is both refreshing and brisk.

Winery website: Dry Creek Vineyard.

Château de la Bouyère Bordeaux Blanc 2010

Château de la Bouyère Bordeaux Blanc 2010

Origin: France
Blend: Sauvignon Blanc (80%), Semillon (20%)
Alcohol Content: 12.0%
Bottle Closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: January 2012
Purchase Price: $7.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: A light golden yellow in color, this wine has mild aromas of tropical fruit with notes of citrus and citrus flowers. There is a nice balance of acidity to the dry-ish fruit flavors on the palate, though the acidity does increase a bit into the finish, which has, somewhat paradoxically, an interesting softness to it.

Our rating: This is a very nice wine, one with some simple elements to it yet seems complex at the same time. Perfectly adequate for sipping on the deck watching the sunset, it improves a bit when consumed with food. We would suggest lighter fare — broiled chicken or white fish filets with steamed vegetables, for example — or possibly as an accompaniment to an appetizer platter. We rate it on the very high side of Above Average, and for the price we paid, a very good value.

Taste profile from the winemaker: Lovely pale golden colour with a little hints of green. This wine has an expressive nose and offers fragrances of citrus fruits that evolve towards nuances of tropical fruits. Besides the initial aromas already perceived by the nose, the mouth is harmonious and fruity. It delivers a great amplitude and roundness to the wine due to the ageing on fine lees.

Winery website: None found.