the sauvignon challenge

Well, Monday felt like Sunday and Tuesday felt like Monday and here I am on Wednesday. Oops, but all that extra time gave me time to shop around for some summer wines. We went hunting for some great New World Sauvignon Blancs to drink on the patio. The following is a list of what we found (vintages excluded until tasting):
Flagstone (South Africa)
Rock Rabbit (Central Coast, California), 2nd purchase
Saint Clair 'The Vicar's Choice' (Marlborough, New Zealand), revisit - new vintage
The Sauvignon Republic (Russian River Valley, California)
The Sauvignon Republic (Marlborough, New Zealand)
Ferrari-Carano Fume-Blanc (Sonoma County, California), revisit - new vintage
Gallo (California), 9th or 10th purchase
Parducci (Mendocino County, California)

We decided to post the list to see if anyone wanted to join us in the challenge, grab these wines and post a comment on what they think. We also opted for new world b/c we felt it would be a bit easier to focus our notes, we'll see if that actually happens.

We decided to start with the Saint Clair 'Vicar's Choice' from Marlborough as this wine had disappeared for a while, our helper at the store said it was due to transport issues. We didn't care, feeling that the absence created some excitement for us. Would it be as good as remembered or would it fall flat. Well flat it wasn't, yum it is, a perfect sipper with our funky dinner. The nose delivered with rich gooseberry and kiwi and the flavour followed through with gooseberry, melon and grapefruit-citrus; there was a tiny hint of fresh cut lawn. Crisp, acidic finish though not as crisp as the Thornbury if memory serves correct. The Thornbury was also very smooth and I think in comparison wasn't so fruit forward. Both are interesting styles from a great Sauvignon Blanc region. Most enjoyable aspect- that it was so food friendly. We made quesadilla, an untraditional match for New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc but it really worked. My partner really enjoys spicy salsa and the wine had enough fruitiness/sweetness to cut the heat.

So to sum it up...
Winery: Saint Clair
Series: The Vicar's Choice
Vintage: 2005
Appellation: Marlborough, New Zealand
Closure: Stelvin
Format: 75cl
Price: $18
Had with: dinner - chicken quesadilla; dessert - fresh fruit salad
Recommend: yes, b/c or pairability and sipability.

Next week: Parducci and a red.

back with a plan

My work has calmed down and my travel has ended and I have time to blog again. It feels good. I have decided to come back with a plan. I have decided to do regular blogs on Tuesdays. Why you ask? This gives me the weekend to sort through my notes and decide which wines to sum up and time to research for websites, etc. I like routine and I hope by having a regular day I can establish a better dialogue with readers.

My first return post is not about a particular wine but about particular glasses. My partner and I have spent the last 2 years investing in Riedel glasses to enhance our wine experience. My favourite purchase was the Riedel 'O' s we bought in March. Though we found various prices by calling all over town we opted with the store closet to home, not the cheapest but had the best stock and the staff we talked to knew a lot about the glasses. The 'O' is a stemless glass that is perfect for summer time. No need to worry about the wine blowing your glass over on the patio, or your clumsy mom knocking them over, the glass is not that high and they kind of 'weeble-wobble but don't fall down'. The best part about the 'O' is it is still grape specific shape, so you get the nose , the palate placement and the enhanced taste in a fun glass. This will be the glass of the cabin this year (along with many wines).

All for now, I'll be posting again on Tuesday, May 23.

time 4 a break

Well, if you haven't noticed I haven't posted about any wines for a while. We began a new project at work that has kept me hopping and away from home, and blogging. I rather enjoy blogging about wine when I have the time like to do it on a regular basis. This project runs until the end of April and will keep me away for that period of time. I have decided to take a sabbatical from blogging until the first week of May.

Thank you for reading,
N90

yet another new personality

Was a wee bit bored tonight and decided to revisit a couple of websites, one being 'The Little Penguin' (see links). They've updated the personality test (or I just don't remember the questions from before). Alas, I have a new personality, I am no longer the alluring Chardonnay, I am now Pinot Noir. Very confusing. I still think I would be Riesling but tlp doesn't make one yet...this thought led to my next question...
I wondered - am I Pinot Noir because I really am Pinot Noir or am I Pinot Noir because that is the newest varietal launched? Wasn't that curious and didn't bother to retake the quiz and answer differently to test hypothesis.
I am curious as to what responses other people get, so daring readers jump on the link, take the test and blog me back your personality.

I am going to head off to bed, cuddle up under the duvet and continue reading new wine book 'Noble Rot - A Bordeaux Wine Revolution' by William Echikson. So far the book has been fascinating. I love Bordeaux and all the personalities and histories, conflicts, takeovers, feuds and culture. And the author is stirring them together into a most interesting story. Tonight is chapter 5 - sweet injustice. When I finish the book I'll post a quick review.

nothing to w(h)ine about

Forgive me fellow bloggers for I have been sinned against, it has been 48 days since my last post.
Was I stranded on a desert island?
No.
Were all my leverpulls broken?
No.
Did the Riedel cabinet break?
No.
Did I forget how to un-twist a Stelvin closure?
No.
Have I paid my penance?
Yes.

I was sentenced to many winter holiday excursions were the wine served left me nothing nice to say. Free wine and all I could whine about was the lack of drinkable wine. I volunteered to be DD more than once.

Note to future hosts - the appearance of a Black Tower Magnum(s) is a legitimate reason to call the health department, Piat D'Or is only for the faint of palate and just because your wallet didn't take a pounding when you bought it doesn't mean my head has to in the morning. Don't bother buying cheap wine - just type BYOB on the e-vite, we won't think any less of you.

Now on to the good...
The non-denominational-gift-dropper-off-er left some wine in my sock that I can't wait try. Disappointingly the gift-dropper-off-er left no new wine literature.

The following is the first few we tried from the bunch:
Spy Valley
Grape(s): Sauvignon Blanc
Vintage: 2004
Appellation: Marlborough, New Zealand
Closure: Stelvin
Format: Standard
Had With: Lime infused tilapia, Basmati Rice and Spinach Salad
Recommend: Yes. Worth the ~$25 the n-d-g-d-o-er spent on it. More Loire Valley then I expected, lots of mineral. Brilliant colour.

Also opened but couldn't try due to cork issue:
Marchesi de'Frescobaldi Nipozzano Chianti Rufina Riserva
Grape(s): Sangiovese
Vintage: 2002
Appellation: Tuscany, Italy
Closure: Trad. Cork
Format: Standard
Price: $19 plus taxes
Issue: Badly corked.
Happy Ending: exchanged with no fuss, will try on weekend.

Michael David Vineyards 7 Deadly Zins
Grape(s): Zinfandel (from 7 of Lodi's producers oldest vines)
Vintage: Hit the recycling bin too fast
Appellation: Lodi, California
Closure: Damn recycling bin
Format: Standard
Price: ~$30, thanks n-d-g-d-o-er.
Had with: good company and a selection of odourous cheese.
Recommend: Go & buy, definitely worth a try. We asked for this wine after reading about it on 'wine in the peg' (see links).

On the rack for Future Blogging:
Screw-Kappa Napa Sauvignon Blanc
Sandhill One
Kenwood Vintage Red