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Blanca’s Summer 2012 White Wine Picks

  • Blanca Valbuena
  • July 27, 2012

Blanca’s Summer 2012 White Wine PicksI love drinking wine in summer. There are few things better than sipping on a cool, refreshing glass of wine in the sunshine. I did the roundup of my favorite roses for summer earlier this month, now it’s time for the best summer whites. I originally planned to keep  them all under $25, but some wines over that price point were too good not to include.

This summer, have fun, and pick up these delicious bottles of wine. Then message me and let me know what you think.

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Montgravet 2010 Cotes De Gascogne: This has quickly become one of my favorite wines. It goes down easy, but is in no way simple. The juice is made from 100% Colombard grapes. The wine is dry, but fruity. It reminds me of white peaches touched by a hint of beach stones. The wine screams summer, is super pleasant and pretty darn cheap (under $10).

M. Chapoutier La Ciboise 2011: There’s a slight and pleasant oiliness to this wine, much like you get from the rind of an orange or mandarin.  The wine is fresh, citrusy and fruity with a killer mouth feel. There’s a very slight, elegant creaminess from its contact with lees. The juice is composed of Grenache Blanc, Vermentino, Roussane, and Ugni Blanc. At around $12, this wine can’t be beat!

Finca El Origen Torrontes 2011: I’ve been a fan of Finca Torrontes for years. Each year the bottle gets better. It still has the touches of jasmin I have come to expect from this bottle. It is super aromatic on the nose, and vicous…almost oily on the mouth. Superb, especially under $10.

Domaine Le Peu de La Moriette Vouvray:  This is one of those wines I wish had a shorter name. Not because I can’t pronounce it (I took French in high school and college), but because people are too damn scared of anything they can’t understand. The juice is 100% Chenin Blanc. It is quite complex. The wine has notes of mandarin, spice, and honey. The finish on the wine is super long. Sure, you could drink this by itself on the deck, but I can easily see it with a poached salmon dish. (Should cost you somewhere between $15 and $20).

Pratsch Gruner Veltliner 2011: I don’t really care if a wine is organic or not. This one happens to be, but I love it merely because it is delicious. The nose is fruity and floral. Once the wine hits the tongue, it is juicy and mouth filling. The wine is reminiscent of apples and grapefruit and marked by spice. Oh yeah the bottle is 1 liter…not your wimpy 750 and it costs around $12-15 bucks!

Napa Cellars 2010 Mount Veeder Napa Chardonnay: I picked quite a few Chards for someone whose favorite grape is NOT chardonnay. This California chardonnay was sophisticated and balanced. While oak was noticeable in the wine, it was subtle and did not overpower the fruit. There were notes of pears and apples, and a bit of caramelization on the palate. The wine had just the right amount of acidity to make you want to drink more.

Stuhlmuller Vineyards 2010 Alexander Valley Estate Chardonnay: I tried this wine at our monthly Meetup dinner which was held at Millesime. The wine is spectacular. It was perfect by itself, but when the food came out (Quenelles) is when it shined. The wine is oaked in a way that does not overpower the fruit. Speaking of fruit, this wine is all about pineapple, mandarin and green apple. It was super fresh and had a bright acidity. Chardonnay done right is such a good thing…and this was very good Chardonnay. $25

Napa Cellars Mount Veeder Napa Chardonnay: Woah, this is the only wine over $25 that I am including in the piece. It was too gorgeous not to include because it fell above my goal price point. This chard was true to its varietal without all the nasty stuff I dislike about it. The juice was crisp and fruity. Reminded me of caramel covered apples (green apples). There was a bit of honey and a pleasant toastiness to it as well. This gem will cost you about $30.

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