This is the episode where we figure out what works… and a lot of things that don’t…

My apologizes about this cut, it’s a bit raw, next week things should go a lot smoother!

This week we’ve got two wines on the show, and the theme for the next 3 weeks is the 6 noble grapes!  Classically, this meant that these grapes were these highest quality, and internationally recognized varietals.  They frequently appear on wine labels and lists. For those just starting, these grapes are as follows [from the sweet, light and white, to the dry, dark, heavy and red]:

Whites:

• Riesling
• Sauvignon Blanc
• Chardonnay

Reds:

• Pinot Noir
• Merlot
• Cabernet Sauvignon

Other varietals [types of grapes!] that are some times included in this classification are:

• Chenin Blanc [White]
• Semillon [White]
• Syrah [Red]

We’re not going to be covering these as extensively to start, but as time goes on, there may be more and more instances of them occurring, as well as many other grapes.  We’ll get to that though.

This week our two wines are a 2009 Riesling from Snoqualmie in the Columbia Valley, Washington and a 2010 Sauvignon Blanc from Oyster Bay in Marlborough, New Zealand.

For that that don’t know how to taste, you can read up on how to taste wine.

2009 Snoqualmie Riesling.

Coming from Washington’s Columbia Valley, this has been one of my favorite Rieslings.  This riesling is great for poaching pears, having a fresh fruit dessert, or just sipping on it’s own.

Sight: A wonderful golden straw color.

Smell:  Wonderful notes of honey, baked apple, and vanilla.  Light notes of cinnamon and crispy pear.

Sip [Taste]:  Rich, thick with honey and floral notes of jasmine, honeysuckle, and light lemon grass.   Light green apple skins.  Moderate body. [ABV 10.5%]  This wine is definitely sweet.

Savor [Aftertaste]:  Honey and very light lemon linger, aftertaste dissipates moderately.

Overall, this isn’t as good as the 2008, but this is still a delicious Riesling for a great price.

Price: $7.95

http://www.snoqualmie.com/Wines/columbia_valley/2009_winemaker’s_select__riesling

2010 Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc

Hailing from Marlborough, New Zealand [one of the best areas for Sauvignon Blanc in the world] this is a very nicely balanced Sauvignon Blanc.  It’s fairly characteristic and would make a good pairing for Asian cuisine,  or roasted scallops and seafood.

Sight: Very pale, almost clear, light green-yellow tinge.

Smell:  Plenty of lime, kiwi, green peppers, and slight leafy greens.  Some minerality and papaya.

Sip [Taste]:   Starts off slightly sweet, but quickly gets very acidic.  Plenty of citrus, with notable lemon and lime zests, minor pith as well.  Slight wet stone and a bit light to medium mouth feel make the wine pleasant and refreshing. [ABV 13%]

Savor [Aftertaste]: Lemon pith and briney minerals prevail.  Slight pumace and sweetness.  A long finish.

Overall, this is a delightful example of new world sauvignon with a touch of old world sensibilities.  For the price this a great balance to achieve, and will be a nice wine for summer.

Price: $8.95

http://www.oysterbaywines.com/

Until next week, keep trying wines!