No shit, there I was, surrounded by angry bottles of vino blanco. Chardonnay to the left of me. Sauvignon Blancs to the right of me. They well knew how many of their kin I’d taken, and by god, they meant to have their revenge. Alright, so I was really just in the wine aisle of Trader Joe’s and Albertson’s, but this thing has go to start somehow. Right? And the good news is that I have four really nice new whites for you to add to your next shopping list. Best of all, the spendyest of them is just $12.99!
We’ll start with the most expensive, which is a Sauternes — the legendary dessert wine of France’s Bordeaux wine region. These wines are made from Sauvignon Blanc & Semmion grapes that get a beneficial mold on them that the French call the Noble Rot (botrytis). This mold makes tiny holes in the grape skins, causing the grape to lose water and concentrating the sugars. The most famous and expensive of these wines is Château d’Yquem. It can costs hundreds a bottle. But we’re not talking about d’Yquem. We’re talking about a TJ’s wine named G. Chevalier Sauternes 2009. I’d never heard of G. Chevalier, but following a tip from my buddy Perrin Lam, I read the back label, where I found the phrase “…has been specially made for Trader Joe’s by Chateau Guiraud. That name I know. Guiraud is no d’Yquem, but it’s a real-deal Sauternes House. Here’s what I thought: Rated 1 to 5 stars.
G. Chevalier Sauternes 2009 — 14% Alc $12.99 for half bottle
COLOR — Medium gold
NOSE — Candied apricots, lychee nuts, wet stone and a touch of gasoline (trust me, it’s supposed to be there)
TASTE — Sweet candied apricots and lemon rind, a bit of lychee nuts and a hit on minerals.
FINISH — Medium bodied, mouth coating with the apricots pushing to the end. Not much acidity, but enough to keep the sweetness from being too much.
RATE — 3.5 Stars. It’s not rich enough to go any higher, nor is it complex enough. But, at $12.99, per half bottle, it’s the best Sauternes deal going. It’s yummy. Anyone who likes dessert wines will love it.
Next up is the cheapest of the wines, Sauvignon Republic’s 2011 Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough New Zealand. Sauvignon Republic is a group of folks who go all over the world, searching for good Sauv Blanc that represents wherever it was grown. I found this one at Trader Joe’s for only $6.99.
Sauvignon Republic Marlborough New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc 2011 — 13% Alc $6.99
COLOR — Light gold, clean and clear.
NOSE — Minerally grapefruit and lemon, a bit of fresh-cut grass.
TASTE — Grapefruit and citrus flavors with a bit of melon and grass.
FINISH — This wine is a bit richer than most NZ Sauv Blancs, and its finish is not as zippy as most. Still, it’s fresh and lively, with citrus flavors. Medium length.
RATE — 4 Stars. This wine is no brainer at $6.99. Try this!!
Time for an even better Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough New Zealand, namely the Oyster Bay Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2011. I found this one at Albertson’s for $9.99 w/club card ($8.99 if you buy six). This wine is everything I love about Marlborough Sauv Blancs! Bright and zippy, it’s mouth watering and makes you want to take sip after sip.
Oyster Bay Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2011 — 13.0% Alc $9.99
COLOR — Pale straw, clear, all the way to the edges.
NOSE — Guava and pink grapefruit with hints of stone and cut grass.
TASTE — Bright citrus and guava with a little grass.
FINISH — Light to medium bodied, long finish of citrus and minerals, with vibrant acid. Lingers on and on, making your mouth water for more.
RATE — 4.5 Stars. This is great stuff!! I’ve already bought six of them, and one’s gone down. A perfect summer wine, or anytime you have grilled shrimp, smoked salmon or goat cheese.
Finally, we’ll finish with a new vintage of a wine whose 2009 vintage disappointed me a bit — Trader Joe’s Jacques Bourguignon Chablis 2010.
Jacques Bourguignon Chablis 2010 — 12.5% Alc $8.99
COLOR — A medium pale straw yellow. Quite clear.
NOSE — Honey suckle, lemon-lime, with a touch of crushed stone and talcum powder.
TASTE — Green apple with lemon-lime fruit flavors, some honey and just a touch of minerals. Plenty of flavor and medium bodied.
FINISH — Bright citrus, honey and stone, medium length. Good acidic verve here, like a Chablis should have. No oak what so ever.
RATE — 4 stars. This makes up for the lacking 2009 vintage. The price has gone up a buck, but for $8.99, it’s a great way to try Chablis (Chardonnay grown in the village of Chablis, Burgundy, France).
