Thursday, February 17, 2005

4 Pinot Blancs: Canada, France, Austria

SANDHILL BURROWING OWL PINOT BLANC 2002, BC, Canada, 12.5%, #541185 $14.00

My notes: Cellared in February 2004 this vintage has a very light straw hue with glistening clarity and hardly any 'legs' on the glass. As it loses its chill, it has a delicate granny smith nose. Malba apple without the sweetness but with the acid is one of the flavours, and a thin honey roundness. A lengthy apple aftertaste, even a pineapple touch. Slowly sip or match with steamed or lightly grilled seafood - telapia, cod, snapper, mussels or crab. Vintages release February 21, 2004.

WEINGUT MACHHERNDL E.R.A. PINOT BLANC&NEUBURGER 2002, Wachau, Austria, 13.0%, #925222 $16.95

My notes: The owner/winemaker Erich Machherndl Jr. blends an old Austrian grape, Neuberger, with Pinot Blanc giving the E.R.A. additional body and roundness. A straw colour with light aromas of peach, apricot, and apple. Medium-bodied, dry with additional depth or interest and a long, balanced finish. Vintages release March 20, 2004. A good sipper or with light seafoods.

TRIMBACH PINOT BLANC 2001, Alsace, France, 12.0%, #089292 $14.95

My notes: Light straw colour and a light apple, pear fragrance with lime tones. Light-bodied, dry with clean apple flavours and a bright finish. This is a General listing. An OK sipper or with scallops, shrimp or white fish.

INNISKILLIN OKANAGAN PINOT BLANC 2003, Okanagan, BC, Canada, 12.5%, #626051 $12.95

LCBO writes: "Straw yellow colour; floral aromas with notes of white peach, anjou pear, gooseberry and citrus; dry, crisp, medium bodied, with citrus, tart apple flavours." My notes: A vivid imagination at work! A faint yellow, a faint Granny Smith nose and a somewhat light-bodied tart gooseberry flavour. This is a General listing. For me, not a sipper. Didn't go with broiled salmon with a hoisin-based sauce - maybe OK with cream sauce dishes - but I'd pass altogether. (Inniskillin's Reserve PB, Vintages #650390 at $13.95 is also available at some Outlets but was not tasted.)

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