SANTA RITA SAUVIGNON BLANC RESERVA 2004, Casablanca Valley, Chile, 13.5% XD, #275677 $12.45
My notes: Straw colour with full gooseberry nose, lingers pleasantly in the glass. Medium-bodied, smooth with flavours of gooseberry/grapefruit, herbs and mint with a bright level of acidity for food pairing. A long clean finish leaving the palate with some dryness, mostly citrus and honey. A good value sipper with cheeses, then follow through with any seafood entree, sliced cold crab, lobster or chicken on herbed greens. Cellarable up to two years. Not a Cloudy Bay but very congenial for almost a third the price. This is a General listing.
DR. PAULY-BERGWEILER RIESLING 2003, Mosel-Saar Ruwer, Germany, 10.0% SC2, #596601 $14.95
Vintages tasting note: "A lively, elegant, off-dry Riesling with classic mineral, honey and peach aromas. It is light-bodied, making it an excellent aperitif wine or one to be enjoyed with lightly spiced seafood dishes." Ontario distributor's note: "Dr. Pauly-Bergweiler uses declassified quality Mosel Riesling to produce an affordable and very charming wine. ... a screwcap for freshness, this 2003 Riesling can be your “go-to wine” for garden parties, luncheons ...and picnics. Light cheese and fruit would be a nice, simple match." Natalie McLean rates an 89 saying “One of the best food wines available, marries well with chicken, pasta and meats.” My notes: Overall a disappointment.... too soft (low alcolhol), too sweet and not sufficiently lively (low acid) for a meal - unless chinese or thai foods. More apt as an aperitif but still an uninteresting thirst quencher - quaff well chilled on the summer deck with light finger foods, pineapple, tangerine slices and good company. Some soft fruit with a light honey/melon length. Vintages release April 2, 2005.
MARQUES DE RISCAL RUEDA 2003, Rueda, Spain, 13.5% XD, #036822 $10.15 (revisited)
LCBO note: "Pale straw colour; delicate citrus, mineral, herb/pea pod and floral aromas with stony/mineral notes; dry, with balanced acidity, light peach, nectarine and melon fruit flavours with a clean finish. " 85% Verdejo, 15% Viura grapes. My notes: A nose like heads down into a cold new pillow. Lots of stony mineral, herb and pea pod aromas, lots of mineral and herb on the back of the tongue and quinine velvet, some tangerine zest, some light melon, full-bodied and dry. The citrus fragrance leads to a long mineral finish making this wine a non-sipper for me - but letting the wine breathe did help. A previous tasting of the 2003 Rueda (Nov, 2004, $9.90) was more fruity consequently had a more pleasing finish. OK with warmed roast pork and seasoned rice.... try with seafood paella, sea bass, lemon chicken or grilled fish. This is a General listing.
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