In my Creators Syndicate "Wine Talk" column this week I suggested a mixed case of value imports for the holidays. All of the wines selected are priced in the sweet spot between $10 and $20 and have been evaluated by yours truly over the past year.
Today I give you the value whites:
Pikorua 2011 Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand ($15) – A deserving winner as best of show white wine at the San Diego International Wine Competition, the Pikorua is only now being introduced to U.S. wine markets. This huge victory in a major U.S. wine competition was accomplished with a stylish blend of richness and pungency, which all of the finest New Zealand Sauvignons have. Rating: 93.
Villa Maria 2011 Sauvignon Blanc ‘Cellar Selection,’ Marlborough, New Zealand ($20) – This exceptional producer is celebrated for its success with sauvignon blanc, New Zealand’s signature wine grape, and there is no better example than this latest release. The Cellar Selection Sauvignon delivers in two key areas of flavor that have made Kiwi sauvignon popular worldwide: the aromas of ripe gooseberry and pungent grapefruit. This vintage is well balanced, with mouth-watering acidity, and intense flavors and aromas that carry through a long, lingering finish. Rating: 92.
Royal Tokaji 2011 Furmint, Hungary ($16) – Light and easy to drink, this Furmint is nevertheless remarkably complex, exhibiting nuances of brioche, honey, and wet stone complemented by fruit-driven aromas of gooseberry, citrus and green apple. Dry and crisp, this is a refreshing alternative for those craving a white wine that is both delicious and different. Rating: 92.
Jacob’s Creek 2011 Riesling Dry Reserve, Barossa, Australia ($14) – Year in and year out this might be the finest wine made at Jacob’s Creek. A Platinum award winner at the 2012 Critics Challenge, it was my favorite of the dry Rieslings that advanced to the championship rounds. In the finals some judges thought it a little austere, but its flinty minerality and razor-like acidity is what I loved most. And I also know the history of this wine. It will age out beautifully, gaining flesh and complexity, and in eight years’ time be an extraordinary example of Barossa Riesling. Rating: 91.
Torres 2011 Vina Esmeralda, Catalunya, Spain ($16) – A light-bodied, clean and refreshing blend of Moscato and Gewurztraminer, Vina Esmeralda from Torres exhibits aromas of white flowers and honey, Vina Esmeralda suggests sweetness although its merely off-dry. This vintage exhibits notes of honeysuckle and citrus and delivers crisp acidity. A winner with tapas, including savory Spanish jamon Iberico. Rating: 88.
Bibi Graetz 2011 ‘Casamatta Bianco,’ Toscana IGT, Italy ($13) – Although Tuscany is best known for its red wines, there is a fair amount of white wine, primarily Trebbiano and Vermentino. The Casamatta Bianco is a blend of the two, with a splash of Muscat. The result is a crisp and refreshing white that has both good acidity and decent richness and mouthfeel. This is a tangy wine with aromas of citrus and honeysuckle. Best served soon with light appetizers, mild cheeses or simply as an aperitif. Rating: 87.
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