As the cold of Winter gives way to warmer temperatures of Spring, many wine enthusiasts and restaurants start thinking about warm weather wines. For me, this group of warm weather wines comprises mainly whites, although rose is a favorite of mine for the summer, but that is a topic for a future post, so for the moment I will talk about whites. Within this “warm weather” classification, I am constantly on the look out for wines that present an easily accessible price point, while providing a desirable flavor and taste profile. Below are a couple of recently tasted white wines that I recommend because they provide a great value for their types:
Herdade do Esporao, Monte Velho White 2009 ($10) The nose is full of floral aromas, citrus and peach, with a slight hint of papaya in the background. The mouth feel is medium bodied and richer than expected, with intense flavors of peach and tropical/citrus fruits balanced toward a stony mineral-ish finish. Cold fermentation in stainless steel tanks maintains flavor freshness in this wine that could do nicely with seafood, Asian fare– or simply as a refreshing aperitif.
Domaine Bernard Moreau White Burgundy Chardonnay 2009 ($16) The nose is clean and slightly citrus while not overpowering. The wine has a medium body and luscious mouth feel with flavors of tart green apple, pear and a hint of lemon zest mid-palate. All flavors are beautifully balanced throughout and the finish has an inviting crispness that provides reason to keep sipping the wine, just to experience the finish again…A lovely example of a high value white burgundy.
Chateau Lamothe de Haux Blanc 2008 ($15) This is a standard Bordeaux Blanc blend of Sauvignon Blanc (40%), Sémillon (40%), and Muscadelle (20%). The nose is light and fresh, immediately floral with citrus followed by a hint of pineapple. Solid medium bodied wine. Mouth-filling flavors of lemon, green apple with a touch of melon and honey, finishes with complex mix of citrus and minerality – all very well balanced throughout. Would pair well with shrimp, lobster or goat cheeses. A great value Bordeaux Blanc.
Jacob’s Creek Chardonnay 2008 ($9) Nose is pungent and juicy with aromas of grapefruit, mandarin orange and lemon. This wine is medium to full bodied, with intense flavors of citrus, melon, grapefruit combine with a hint of toastiness that nicely balances the wine. These broad creamy flavors are followed by a slightly mineral finish with a hint of oak, but only a hint, not overpowering. Overall there is a surprisingly fine balance throughout that suggests a more expensive wine. As a category, Australian Chardonnays have been somewhat maligned in recent vintages for tasting ‘over-manufactured’, but this Jacob’s Creek Chard is representative of how great the Aussies can be, even at a mass market price point. If you enjoy full flavored New World Style chardonnays, give this fruit-driven example a try.
Jack Brice Wine 