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August/September
2008
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Wine Review Archive: France:
Loire Valley White & Sparkling
($19). Racy acidity shines through the
layers of citrus, mineral, grass and green
apple flavors. Gains intensity and depth
through the finish. Very good value. Ready
to drink now and over the next two or
three years. (Winery Spotlight 08/03)
($40).
Concentrated, spicy, herbal aromas introduce
focused lime and gooseberry fruit. Slight
mineral and herbal note emerges on the
full finish. Ready to drink now and over
the next four or five years. (Winery Spotlight
08/03)
($15)
- This Loire Sauvignon Blanc was surprising
in that it tasted so much like a California
Chardonnay. It was creamy and somewhat
oaky with a hint of cinnamon. It seemed
to be missing the usual citrus, melon,
or grassy flavors one expects from a Sauvignon
Blanc. It was an okay wine, but a strange
Sauvignon Blanc. (Weekend Wine, 08/01)
($85). This is the granddaddy of Pouilly-Fumé,
with a pricetag to match. But it's worth
trying at least once! With complex mineral
and smoke notes accenting elegant apricot
and white peach. Dry, crisp finish. Ready
to drink now and over the next three or
four years. (Wine Tasting 08/06)
($20-ish, we think) offered cranked
up, mouthwatering acidity, with a pronounced
pineapple character, but not overly
so. Stone/mineral notes on finish were
appealing. Ready to drink now. (Weekend
Wine 05/05)
(also $20-ish),
on the other hand, is fruitier up front,
with pretty peach and nectarine flavors.
Citrus and flinty notes support from start
to lingering finish. Ready to drink now.
(Weekend Wine 05/05)
($8). 100% Chenin Blanc, this happy little
bubbly from the Loire offers surprising
complexity, with apricot and orange rind
flavors with nice structure. Finishes
with pretty almond tones. Ready to drink
now. (Weekend Wine 04/05)
($14). Crisp
and refreshing, with good acidity and
definite floral notes underlying the sweet
apple and honeyed pear fruit. Lovely finish.
Ready to drink now. This wine really seemed
to emphasize the sweet flavor of grouper
fillets and worked surprisingly well with
the salty feta and herb seasonings. An
interesting match, but probably not for
everyone. (Weekend Wine, 02/02)
($23). Always like
this wine, this vintage offers ripe
citrus and gooseberry, mineral and lemongrass
notes. Dry, mineral-driven finish. Ready
to drink now. (Wine Tasting 08/06)
($30).
Elegant and ripe, with pretty pear fruit
layered with citrus zest, flint and
a touch of cream on the generous, complex
finish. Ready to drink now. (Wine Tasting
08/06)
($18) is a delightful
and delicious wine. Nicely integrated
fruit is accented with grass and chalky
notes -- this could only be a Pouilly
Fume. Sauvignon Blanc just doesn't taste
like this from anywhere else in the
world! Ready to drink now. (Weekend
Wine, 09/01)
($19) displays textbook
Sancerre flavors -- racy and tart, with
a definite grassy note. The light to
medium bodied sort of diminishes the
overall effect of the flavors, but it
is still quite tasty and enjoyable.
Ready to drink now. (Weekend Wine, 09/01)
($11). Fresh and pretty, with sweet pea
and hay accents to the crisp pear and
citrus fruit. Picks up just a touch of
mineral on the moderate finish. Not overly
complex, but still tasty. Ready to drink
now. (Drinks with Les Dames 04/07)
($20). One of the best Fumé
in recent memory, and at an affordable
price, with pretty peach, apricot, mineral
and smoke notes that build through the
creamy vanilla finish. Ready to drink
now. (Wine Tasting 08/06)
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