Quick Reviews
Seven Terraces Sauvignon Blanc – New Zealand – 2016
Good lord, the nose on this thing will knock you out, and in a good way. You’ll smell this long before you raise the glass to your snoot. Potent lemon candy and bold apple dominate. On the tongue it’s potent lemon, slate and hints of vanilla. I didn’t pick up any “red pepper jam” promised by the winemaker, which sounds like typical BS anyway. Still, this is a fine NZ SB, although the overpowering lemon may alienate some more refined palates.
Gainey Chardonnay – California – 2014
Candy hints with vanilla on the nose, but otherwise it’s typical Cally chardonnay: lots of oak and vanilla overwhelm the grape. Tart finish evaporates quickly. A just-right level of sugar and acid keeps this from a lower score.
Grans-Fassian Riesling – Germany – 2016
Not sweet by Mosel standards so I was surprised to see so many reviews calling this is a sweet wine. Mild sugar and ample, and quite typical, fruit notes of mild apple, peach and pear. There’s nothing that would make this stand out from others rieslings from the region, but since they are so spectacular anyway, this still hits 4 stars. Very nice.
Cockburn’s Late Bottled Vintage Port – Portugal
A fine port that hits all the usual beats: sweet black cherry and hints of chocolate. Not unique at all but delicious nevertheless.
Williams Selyem Central Coast Pinot Noir – California – 2014
Nose promises more than the body can deliver. Powerful scents of cherry and black tea yield to a bland mouthful of ashtray leftovers. Genuinely unpleasant even after allowed to sit. Like bottled bleccch.
Murphy-Goode The Fumé Sauvignon Blanc – California – 2016
Honey nose, with an interesting floral kick that lasts through the finish. Strong slate middle, but this comes off more French than Kiwi. Could use either a bit more fruit or a bit more lemongrass to kick it up another half star, but overall not bad.
Decoy Sauvignon Blanc – Sonoma California – 2016
Stunningly dull. You’d hardly know this was a sauvignon blanc, and you’d be hard-pressed to even identify this as a box wine blend. The only way to define this is by naming what’s NOT in it. There’s no apple here, no minerality, no lemongrass, nothing other than a boring sensation of something wet passing over your tongue. Given the Decoy label, it’s remarkable.
Saint M Riesling – Germany – 2016
Ripe green apple is overpotent here, adding a bit too much tang to keep this from a higher ranking, but it’s spectacular nevertheless. A bit too fizzy for me as well. Just-right sweetness and bracing acidity. If you’re a reezfan you’ll love it, if not you might want to try something less radical. From the Dr. Loosen gang.
Forever Young Sauvignon Blanc – Chile – 2016
Grassy apple-y goodness that is marred only by a noticeable lack of citric bite. This is so smooth, it’s unlike any SB I’ve tasted, and would probably be a great first SB for fans of California chardonnay looking to branch out. For me, though the lack of kick left me wanting. But wow, what a nose!
Taylor’s 20 Year Old Tawny Port – Portugal
Nose is sweetened olive (you read that right), once down the gullet it’s smooth honey soaked blackberry. Highly recommended.