Attributes:

Schloss Gobelsburg

Langenlois, Other

Gruner Veltliner

750 ML

Food Matches:

Native to Austria, Gruner Vetliner is a pale dry white with flavors of strawberry, rhubarb, but predominantly apple or white pepper. Floral aromas accompany this answer to the question: “What can we drink with this asparagus?”

Attributes:

Prince de Tabourg

Bordeaux, France

Bordeaux - White

750 ML

Food Matches:

A region in western France that grows famous red wines from the Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc grapes and white wines from Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon and Muscadelle grapes. Situated on the Atlantic coast, Bordeaux has a maritime climate with warm summers and fairly mild winters as well as an abundance of rain during harvest time. When young, the finest red Bordeaux wines have a deep cranberry hue and aromas of blackcurrants, plums, spice, cedar, and cassis. For the first ten years or so these wines can be very dry, with tannin masking the fruity flavors. Eventually the wines turn garnet, and develops an extraordinarily complex bouquet and flavor as well as softer tannins. The finest red Bordeaux wines still take 20 years or so before reaching their maturity. Two distinct red wine production zones exist within the Bordeaux region; the Left Bank and the Right Bank. The Left Bank vineyards are located west of the Garonne River and the Gironde Estuary, into which the Garonne empties. The Right Bank vineyards are east and north of the Dordogne River and east of the Grionde Estuary. Of the various wine districts on the Left and Right Banks, four are the most important for red wines: Haut-Médoc; Pessac-Leognan, St-Emilion, and Pomerol. For white wines, the most important are Graves and Pessac-Leognan.

Attributes:

Huntington

Sonoma County, United States

Sauvignon Blanc

750 ML

2005: CGCW Rating: 87

fresh

solid

grass, herbs, oak

2005: Tastings Rating: 86

fresh, soft, tangy, tart

medium body

apricot, citrus, grapefruit, herb flavors

sweet

2004: WineSpectator Rating: 87

bright

floral

citrus, grapefruit, grass, peach

2004: WineEnthusiast Rating: 85

crisp

pleasant

concentrated, sweet

2004: WineAndSpirits Rating: 90

clean, fresh

light

citrus, gooseberry, melon, spicy

2004: CGCW Rating: 87

bright, lively

simple

delicate

2003: WineEnthusiast Rating: 85

tart, very crisp

citrus

2003: CGCW Rating: 82

sour

Food Matches:

Comes mostly from California, France, New Zealand, and South Africa. Its highly acidic wines are often suggestive of herbs or grass. Light to medium bodied and usually dry, European versions are generally not oaky while California Sauvignon Blanc can take on many of the qualities of Chardonnay. France has two classic wine regions for the Sauvignon Blanc gape: Bordeaux and the Loire Valley The Bordeaux wine is called Bordeaux Blanc and the two best known of the Loire wines are called Sancerre or Pouilly-Fumé. In Bordeaux, Sauvignon Blanc is sometimes blended with Sémillon.

Like its neighbor Napa, Sonoma is a small area filled with independent wineries and characterized by microclimates that vary according to the topography. The coolest parts of Sonoma are the fog-filled south, where the grape varieties are Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Northwards up the valley the climate warms and provides a good base for Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel. In general Sonoma wines are less dramatically flavorful than those of Napa. Cabernet Sauvignon is relatively soft, with blackcurrant fruit, minty and eucalyptus perfume, and some soft buttery oak. Zinfandel ranges from soft and gulpable to massive bramble and pepper styles. Chardonnay is rich and juicy, especially from the Russian River, and Sauvignon Blanc can be zingy and grassy. Most Sonoma wines have a freshness and a soft edge which makes them very suitable for drinking on their own, however they partner well with strongly flavored fish and meat dishes. The old-style Zinfandels are delicious with spicy cuisine.