The Wine Witch must be getting into her dotage. This blog is going on 3 years now. I have been drinking and enjoying the Ferrari-Carano Fume Blanc all this time and years prior, but never reviewed it. My daughter-in-law brought this to my attention when we were out to dinner the other day. Better late than never, so here is my belated review.
Before we get to far, let’s remember that Fume Blanc is really Sauvignon Blanc usually done in a drier style. The 2008 Ferrari-Carano is a real winner in this genre. This wine comes from the Sonoma Valley in California. It is blend of stainless steel and older oak fermentation. This is a wining combination. The steel keeps it crisp while the older oak adds a level of complexity without intruding.
To enjoy all the nuances of this wine, please do not drink it too cold – cool is the way to go. There are all sorts of lovely floral notes and tastes (orange blossoms and roses) that just do not come through when it is cold. In addition to the flowers there the expected citrus flavors of lime and grapefruit supported by a flinty core. Toward the end, the tropics kick in with guava and pineapple. This wine is fairly dry with mid-level acidity and a good mouth feel. As I said – a lot going on here.
The 2008 Ferrari-Carano kisses the top of our price ceiling when not on sale. It is worth the $15 when there are no discounts to be found.
On Saturday, February 27, 2010 Chile was rocked by a devastating earthquake whose death toll as of today has topped 800. The 8.8 magnitude earthquake has destroyed, according to Vivian Sequera and Alan Clendenning of the Associated Press, least 150 million bottles’ worth of wine, and has affected some of Chile’s oldest wine growing regions.
The devastating earthquake in Chile has had an enormous impact on people and businesses. One of Chile most notable industries, wine making, is still assessing the damage. The stats known to date are pretty impressive:
I have read in any number of articles that supposedly 10% of all wine is corked. Simply put, corked means that the wine is no longer at its best and may even be out and out undrinkable. As you know, I have had a lot of wine in my day. I probably would have fingers and certainly toes left over for the number of bottles of wine I considered corked. Again, being only anenthusiastic amateur, my palate may not be sophisticated enough. However, I think this number maybe a little overstated, but it is still a problem.
Recently received the note below:
“have recently been trolling snooth and corkd and came upon your site i love it and it’s very informative so thank you my question is regarding vintages and types of wine i notice that this is a big deal in ratings are their any simple pointers you could give me as a newbie about vintages and cabernets/chardonnays with regard to country and region it would be much appreciated thanks! – shamsi”
The Wine Witch has been on the road the last two weeks for my day job (which unfortunately has NOTHING to do with wine), so I am a little behind in my postings. Hopefully you have been enjoying the dispatches from our newest contributor, Lisa Scott. Lisa’s perspective is value priced wines that have a eco-friendly slant. Welcome, Lisa!
Posted in Wine Reviews | 
Tags: Champagne, Jacob's Creek, Rosé, Sparkling wines | 
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Finding a great tasting chardonnay is like finding the right pair of shoes to go with the dress for your wedding, or the “right” tie to complement your suit. The experience is equivalent to falling in love for the first time, or having your first kiss. It’s a day you will never forget; and when the day is done, you will always remember how good you felt wearing that tie or that dress because it complemented you–perfectly.
Posted in Wine Reviews |
Tags: Bonterra Chardonnay, California, Chardonnay, Costco Wholesale Corporation, French wines, Mendocino County wine, Organic, Wine |
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Yellow+Blue Malbec
I recently came across a great organic Malbec by Yellow+Blue. Although packaged in a carton—I try to stay away from wines in a box—I was intrigued by its design. The Malbec was quite astonishing considering its packaging and its price (on average $12.00). It was a medium- to full-bodied wine with a complex finish. It also had a nice aroma with a hint of cherry and chocolate. I imagine it would go well with a fine steak or other braised meat.
The company, Yellow+Blue is about environmental sustainability– throughout the growing, winemaking and packaging process. The grapes and the farming process have been certified through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as 100% organic, while the packaging, remember– a cardboard box– was developed to reduce their carbon footprint so they only use 7% of that footprint on packaging. Read the rest of this entry »
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Tags: $12, Malbec, Organic certification, Organic wine, Wine, Yellow+Blue |
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Before we get too far this one is right on the cusp of our price point. I picked it up for $14.99, but if I look at prices online, I see a range of $12-18. If you can find it for $15 or less, by all means buy it. Much more than that and I am not sure you are getting all you can for the money. If the 2008 Hanna Sauvignon Blanc were $10-12, the Wine Witch would rate it 4 stars+. However, at $15 it violates our bang for the buck rating system. Hence the 3.5 stars.
Posted in Wine Reviews |
Tags: California, Hanna Sauvignon Blanc, Russian River Valley, Sauvignon Blanc |
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Well Australia certainly loves its critters – Yellow Tail, Little Penguin, Black Swan, etc.. Here is the latest addition to the menagerie – Friday Monkey. My personal theory is that Australians keep the really good stuff at home. Some marketing genius has determined that Americans are suckers for critters, and therefore they have a distribution channel for their second tier wines.
Valentine’s Day is fast approaching. Chocolate treats are often a significant part of the festivities. Those of us that love wine are facing the annual problem of what wine to pair with our chocolate. If you are looking for one definitive answer here – think again. In the Wine Witch’s opinion this is one of the trickier matches to pull off well.
By and large I have enjoyed most Red Truck wines. These are not great wines, but they are very reliable, will not break the bank, and will cause you no embarassment when served. Over the weekend my son shared a bottle of the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon he received as a host gift. He was not too thrilled. I found it a pleasant wine.
First of all note the wide price range. The suggested retail for Rodney Strong Chardonnay is $15. I have never seen it for $15. It is usually deeply discounted and you can often find it for $10 or less. So it is not squeaking in under our price cap.
