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WINE COLUMN
10 BEST VALUE SUMMER WHITES
By Carolyn Evans Hammond, published in Outreach Connection and distributed privately on 05/06/09
Grilled fish.
Goat cheese and tomato salad drizzled with really good olive oil.
Salty potato chips in the sunshine.
Warm nights on the front porch with a book or on the back deck with friends.
For these and 900 other reasons, I like to keep a bottle or two of white in the fridge this time of year. Not necessarily fancy stuff—though it’s nice to have a wee split of bubbly tucked in there somewhere for when the mood strikes—but easy-going, inexpensive wines to grab instantly, without a second thought. With that in mind, I’ve listed 10 of the best value summer whites at the LCBO. The first one is outrageously good value and it’s what I’ll probably stash in my fridge this week since I prefer a bit of restraint in my wine. But there’s something on the list to suit everyone’s palate.
What a find! This charming little Italian blend of 80% Garganega and 20% Trebbiano is gently reminiscent of lime and cool, wet stones. Light- to medium-bodied. A classic, elegant dry wine everyone will enjoy. 12% alc.
Schmitt Sohne Relax Riesling 2007,
This pale straw wine shows attractive sea salt and lemon aromas followed by a coiled-spring palate of incredible concentration. Bright lime and firm mineral core overlaid with heady flavors of juicy peaches and crisp apple. Off-dry but finishes dry. Light-bodied, sleek, accessible wine. 9.5% alc.
Quite a fresh, fruit-forward style with lively aromas of gooseberry and green pea that echo on the palate, layered with pear and kiwi. Impeccable balance. Medium-bodied with 13% alc.
Fleeting aromas of grapefruit and cut grass leads to a full-bodied, racy palate of Granny Smith apples, ruby grapefruit, and sweet apricot. Smooth, highly-toned texture and meticulously balanced. 13.5% alc.
Rosemount Diamond Label Sauvignon Blanc 2008, South
Pronounced asparagus and lime zest nose leads to a crisp and yet silky palate that’s citrusy yet herbal, full but delicate, lean yet muscular. 12.5% alc. Medium body and balanced. Impressive.
J.
Glossy pale straw wine with a closed nose that rips across the palate with vibrant lime before evolving toward red grapefruit, juicy ultra-ripe pear, and then soft honeydew melon. Well-balanced and medium-bodied with 13% alc.
Mouth-filling flavors of apple and lime broaden to include hints of juicy grapefruit, lemongrass and honeydew melon. A touch tropical. Intense extract is anchored with razor acidity wrapped in a supple mouthfeel. Full-bodied. 13.5% alc.
Clos du Bois Sauvignon Blanc 2008, North Coast, California,
This very pale almost silvery wine exudes soft snow pea and freshly cut green apple aromas before blasting the palate with racy gooseberry, green apple and tart lime sorbet. Long, slow lime finish. 13.5%
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc 2008,
Seriously explosive gooseberry, passion fruit and asparagus on the nose and palate. Generously broad yet bracing wine with quick lime-squirt acidity. Exciting and invigorating wine with a medium-bodied weight of 13% alc.
Kim Crawford SP The Mistress Riesling 2005,
Lime and kerosene, candied lime peel, and a bit of ripe apple—green and red. Quite ripe and zesty. Full-throttle fruit not unlike the Sauvignon Blanc from the region and racy acidity. Full-bodied. 13.5% alc.
To find an LCBO near you that stocks a particular bottle, visit http://www.lcbo.com and search by the product name or number.
This column is distributed privately, appears in Outreach Connection weekly, and is posted at www.wine-tribune.com. Seasoned journalist and qualified sommelier Carolyn Evans-Hammond has written for several major publications including Decanter Magazine, The Times newspaper, and Wine & Spirit International magazine in the U.K., as well as Maclean’s magazine, Taste magazine, Tidings magazine, The Toronto Star and The Province in Canada. Her bestselling book, 1000 Best Wine Secrets, is available at most major bookstores, and signed copies are available through her website. Carolyn’s next book is due out in March 2010.