New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc hits the right Savvy B notes for me - I find it refreshing, light, easy to drink and perfect for a hot summer day. I know there are fans of the other versions from places like the Loire and California, but for me ... Today, it's the SOHO Winery 2024 Peggy Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc should not be a controversial wine, but it seems some like the New Zealand style and some ... not so much. I happen to enjoy them, especially on a hot summer day - a chilled bottle of Savvy B by my side, makes the day all that much better. Today, I recommend the
SoHo Wine 2023 Stella Sauvignon Blanc
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| Today's line up of wines: 2015-2010 (3 whites / 3 reds) |
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| And a look at the lunch menu ... more on that later |
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| Our host, Dave Edmonds, Senior Winemaker Nobilo (second from left) answered questions and talked about wines, vintages and regions |
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| Chef Tom Riley, originally from New Zealand, took his inspiration from the wines presented - fusing Canadian and New Zealand cuisine (more like New Zealand food concepts with Local ingredients) |
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| The whites are poured, so let's kick this thing off ... |
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| 2014 Regional Collection Sauvignon Blanc ($16.95 - #415745) Nose: grapefruit, lemon, grassy and pineapple core Taste: seemingly sweet fruity entry lovely pith notes, long finish juicy pink grapefruit finish and dry linger Rating: **** |
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| 2014 Icon Sauvignon Blanc juicy of citrus and passionfruit, soft acidity with a long finish, there's also a mineral compenent like "raindrops on hot concrete" softer, weightier and more mouthfilling than Regional Rating: *** 1/2+ |
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| 2010 Icon Pinot Noir licorice-spice, high acidity, cassis and violets, cedary-oak notes prevail on the finish, even a little smoky I found this wine to be overtly smoky and cedary No rating - wine is no longer available |
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| 2013 Icon Pinot Noir Nose: nice lean fruit that's a dark and red mix with floral/violet; showy but not flamboyant - good acidity Taste: follows the nose, delicate yet still masculine with a spiced-raspberry finish Rating: **** |
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| 2014 Icon Pinot Noir Nose: more in-your-face with red fruits and plum, real sexy fruit violets and floral notes with hints of anise Taste: hints of white pepper and herbal notes on the finish; a really bold solidly good wine Rating: ****+ |
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| Smoked Tomato Soup with miso creme fraiche |
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| Fogo Island Crab Kina with butter, pappardelle & preserved lemon |
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| Roasted Lamb Rump with minted potatoes, peas & saffron labna |
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| Passion Fruit & Vanilla Cheesecake with stewed tamarillo |
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| Villabella 2005 Amarone 'Fracastoro' ($56.99) pleasant richness of black cherry and red cherry, elegant tannins and a long finish (****+) |
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| Delibori 2012 Ripasso della Valpolicella ($17.99) finesse and elegance with rich cherry with really pleasant mouthfeel and good flavour (****+) |
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| Zyme 2009 Valpolicella Classico Superiore ($44.99) rich red fruit from beginning to end; cherry up front with a gentle, delicate finish - very drinkable (****+) |
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| Zyme 2008 Kairos ($74.99) a 15 grape variety blend which offers up complexity and intensity with a big spicy/tannin finish (*** 1/2+) |
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| Zyme 2007 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico ($144.99) black cherry, coffee, mocha, blackberry, vanilla, rich and smoky; nice balancing acidity on the finish - damn fine wine (****+) |
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| Zyme 2003 Amarone Classico Riserva 'La Mattonara' ($379.99) richer and smokier than the other Zyme Amarone with coffee, toffee, and black cherry extract; rich and flavourful - there are layers of flavour that make this very decadent (**** 1/2) |
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| Casina Bric 460 2010 Barolo, Bricco delle Viole ($84.00) elegant yet juicy with lovely fruit, good acidity and chalky mineral (****+) |
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| Casina Bric 460 2010 Barolo ($68.00) fruit driven with raspberry, sour cherry and vanilla (****) |
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| Ca' del Baio 2009 'Pianrosa' Barbaresco ($32.99) 2 years in oak, 6 months in bottle ... shows dried cherry, smoke, nice mineral and acidity mix - lovely and elegant food wine (****) |
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| Ca' del Baio 2013 Moscato D'Asti ($19.99) pretty Moscato with tropical notes; sweet but elegant - biscotti and almond notes on the finish, nice acidity (****) |
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| Braida di Giacomo Bologna 2011 Montebruna ($29.99) single vineyard offering Barbera black cherry, cassis, raspberry, smoky-vanilla and a nice tannin grip (****+) |
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| Braida di Giacomo Bologna 2010 Bricco Dell'Uccellone ($74.99) grapes from 53 year old vines aged 14 months in oak robust yet shows elegance, dark berries, coffee, chalky / mineral and smoky (****) |
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| Gaja 2011 Promis ($47.99) great fruit forward wine with red and black fruit - balances acidity, wood smoke and tannins (****) |
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| Siro Pacenti 2012 Rosso di Montalcino ($45.00) big coffee flavour with creme de cassis, red berries and rich blackberries (****) |
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| Collemattoni 2012 Rosso di Montalcino ($25.99) easy drinking with cherry and spice (*** 1/2+) |
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| Villa a Sesta 2009 Chianti Classico Riserva ($32.99) rich, robust, and juicy yet shows backbone with blackberry, cassis and other dark fruit and good spice (****) |
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| Villa a Sesta 2009 Chianti Classico 'Il Palei' ($22.99) mocha, coffee, cinnamon, vanilla, smoke - very pleasant (*** 1/2+) |
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| Fattoria di Magliano 2011 'Sinarra' ($23.99) 100% Sangiovese mineral and red fruit mix in this deliciously fruit-driven wine (*** 1/2+) |
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| Fattoria di Magliano 2010 'Poggio Bestiale' ($49.99) 40% Merlot / 35% Cabernet Franc / Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot yummy - big black fruit, smoky yet with nice tannin backbone and a deliciously long finish (****) |
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| Arnaldo-Caprai 2011 Montefalco ($22.99) 70% Sangiovese / 15% Sagrantino / 15% Merlot lovely fruit of blackberry and cassis with gentle spice (****) |
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| Arnaldo-Caprai 2008 Sagrantino di Montefalco ($89.99) big, spicy and rich, full of dark fruit, and hard tannins; it's a food wine and sipping it brings me back to Montefalco (****+) |
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| Masciarelli 2012 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo ($15.99) rich and fruity with red and black berries and gentle tannins; this is a nice fruit driven wine (****) |
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| Feudi di San Gregorio 2013 Primitivo di Manduria ($18.99) always a pleasurable drink with rich red cherry, blackberry and plum (****) |
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| Argiolas 2013 'Costamolino' ($17.99) lovely floral, creamy mouthfeel, pineapple, good acidity (*** 1/2+) |
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| Argiolas 2010 'Is Solinas' ($17.99) Carignan and Bovale (same family as Mourvedre) 1 year oak / 1 year cement / 2 years bottle herbal, raspberry, nice spice and good acidity with a long salty/mineral finish (****) |
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| Henri Abele NV Blancs de Blancs ($79.00) almandine and bruised apple, crisp, clean and biscuity toasty with hints of buttered bread (****) |
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| Chateau du Val D'or 2010 Saint-Emilion Grand Cru ($34.99) gentle and soft with nice balance of fruit and wood: hints of smoke, blueberry skin and tannins (****) |
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| Daniel Chotard 2013 Sancerre ($25.99) nice mineral with grapefruit pith and grassy notes, great mouthfeel and a stony mineral finish and good length (****) |
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| BNA Wine Group 2012 Butternut Pinot Noir ($24.00) light and easy drinking with nice fruit (****) |
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| BNA Wine Group 2012 Humble Pie Cabernet Sauvignon ($21.99) red fruit with touches of red licorice and anise; nice spiced finish with good length (****) |
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| Mission Hill 2010 Quatrain ($45.95) 40% Merlot / 20% Cabernet Sauvignon / 20% Cabernet Franc / 20% Syrah 12 months new French oak - fruit from Southern Okanagan blueberry, cocoa, vanilla backed by black cherry and touch of spice (****) |
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| Mission Hill 2010 Compendium ($45.95) 41% Cabernet Sauvignon / 38% Merlot / 21% Cabernet Franc 13 months new French oak - fruit from Black Sage and Osoyoos vineyards sweet black cherry, vanilla, creamy smooth with a silkyness that contains cocoa and a touch of smoke (**** 1/2) |
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| Mission Hill 2010 Oculus ($80.95) 51% Merlot / 26% Cabernet Sauvignon / 23% Cabernet Franc 14 months new French oak - the wine is always Merlot dominated chocolate and black cherry with an element of spice that tickles and plays across the tongue (****) |
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| Dona Paula 2012 1100 Elevation ($19.95) 60% Malbec / 30% Cabernet Sauvignon / 10% Syrah single vineyard wine made from the Uco Valley smooth, raspberry, cherry, chocolate and peppery notes that really punch on the finish ... very enticing. (****) |
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| Louis Latour 2008 Volnay 1er Cru "En Chevret" ($70.21) A nice blend of cherry and spice but with a smooth palate that shows acidity and cranberry cocktail. (****) |
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| Lanson 2006 Tsarine Blanc de Blanc ($59.95) This is a mineral dominated 100% Chardonnay Grand Cru sparkler with big green apple and lemon that's mouth-puckering with good acidity. (****+) |
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| Eugenio Collavini 2012 More ($16.95) blend of 40% Refosco and 60% Merlot - aged 12 months in oak Blackberry and rich cassis with blueberry and black cherry; smooth and quite supple (****) |
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| Vivanco 2007 Crianza ($27.30) 100% Tempranillo aged 16 months in most American oak lots of nice spicy notes but all backed by vanilla and spiced cherry (*** 1/2+) |
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| Nederburg 2011 Motorcycle Marvel ($24.95) Grenache / Carignan / Syrah / Mourvedre / Cinsault Smoky dark fruit and elegant spice (*** 1/2+) |
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| Nederburg 2011 Manor House Cabernet Sauvignon ($16.95) Cocoa, smoke, vanilla, blackberry, cassis and black pepper (*** 1/2+) |
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| Davis Bynum 2012 Jane's Vineyard Pinot Noir ($36.95) Sweet cran-cherry with raspberry, strawberry, nice spice and good acidity (*** 1/2+) |
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| Rodney Strong 2010 Brothers Ridge Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon ($99.95) 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from 1200 foot elevation with 21 months in French oak Juicy with vanilla and smoke backing; black cherry and blackberry are the fruits - this one is most definitely smooth, sultry and sexy. (**** 1/2) |
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| Rodney Strong 2011 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($27.95) 91% Cabernet Sauvignon with Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot also in here Nice cherry and black cherry with sweet cherry and vanilla (****) |
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| Rodney Strong 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve ($59.95) 100% Cabernet Sauvignon - 21 months French oak Smooth, almost creamy upon entry with a hint of spice on the finish, all wrapped around lovely black and blue fruit (****+) |
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| Sacred Hill 2013 "Halo" Pinot Noir ($22.95) Pinot Noir made from 9 year old vines - aged in new and 1 year old oak Great fruit with a cherry-cranberry cocktail; nice tannins, good acidity, touch smoky with great red fruit. (**** 1/2) |
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| Tyrrell's 2011 Winemaker Selection Vat 8 Hunter Shiraz-Cabernet ($17.08) Rich in fruit touched by white pepper (*** 1/2+) |
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| Tyrrell's 2012 Lost Block Shiraz ($17.08) Chocolate and white pepper with plenty of blackberry and black cherry (****) |
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| Cockburn's 2000 Quinta dos Cannais Vintage Port ($39.95) Already aged and ready to buy and drink now ... chocolate, black cherry, spice, sexy and smooth with enough acidity and spice to keep you coming back for more (****+) |
