Wedding Wine 3: Hunter's Sauvignon Blanc

The third wine I chose for my friend's wine-tasting wedding is Hunter's Sauvignon Blanc (2007). I first tasted this wine at a wine tasting at The Elusive Grape, Deland, FL. A representative from the winery came all the way from Australia to show this excellent wine. This is definitely the best Sauvignon Blanc I have ever had. The nose is ripe with tropical fruit and the palate features layers of melon, peach, and more tropical fruit. This is another full-bodied white wine, crisp and refreshing with a lingering finish.

Thanksgiving wines

We had an intimate gathering for Thanksgiving this year with only four of us. Our out-of-town guests arrived just in time for turkey, so there was not much time for wine pairing with appetizers.

As soon as they walked through the door, I popped the cork of the Cristalino Brut Rosé Cava (blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Trepat, made traditionally with the secondary fermentation in the bottle). It was a sparkling welcome to our family from Pennsylvania and Arizona, and at only $8 a bottle, an awesome value. The nose and palate featured lively notes of strawberry, raspberry, and mineral, and the finish was dry and refreshing.

During the main course of our meal, we enjoyed one of my favorite Rieslings, the Chateau St. Michelle Colombia Valley Riesling (2007), another great value which was on sale for $8.99. This versatile wine, with its delicious body of melon and pear, was an excellent match with all the dishes served.

I had planned to open a Pinot Noir to complete the meal, but our food was devoured (hungry travelers!) before the Reisling was gone (shocking, I know!), and our guests decided that coffee was the next step. Maybe next year...

Wedding Wine 2: Chateau Lamothe de Haux, Bordeux Blanc

The second wine showcased during the wedding wine tasting was Chateau Lamothe de Haux, Bordeux Blanc (2006). This outstanding white Bordeaux is comprised of 40% Sauvignon Blanc, 40% Semillon, and Muscadelle. I vividly remember the night we first tried this wine. We went to a wine tasting at our favorite wine bar, The Elusive Grape, in Deland, FL. There was a separate wine tasting going on at the next table for the employees of a new restaurant that would be opening shortly. The distributor, who was serving these wines and who knows us quite well, sneaked a bottle over to us and said, "guys, you have to try this!" I was very impressed with this smooth and fruity (think melon and citrus yearning to be paired with goat cheese or shellfish) yet complex (and rather full-bodied for a white) wine, and my companion and I happily finished off the rest of the bottle!

Fast forward a few months to the wedding for which I selected the wine. After I had gone through the wine tasting table, this was the first wine I returned to for a full glass to have with my appetizers, and it was every bit as excellent as I had remembered.

Wedding Wine 1: Chateau St. Michelle Eroica Riesling

I recently had the honor of choosing the wines for my friend, and fellow wine-enthusiast's, wedding which included a wine tasting. From the comments that she and I overheard from guests, the wines were a huge success. The next few postings will be showcasing these wines, which are some of my favorites!

Wedding Wine 1:
Chateau St. Michelle, Eroica, Riesling, Columbia Valley, 2006 (Wine Spectator 91)
This Riesling simply amazes me. It is rich and fruit-forward with subtle mineral notes that dance on your tongue. For you red wine connoisseurs who have difficulty appreciating most white wines (I used to be one of you), you will be surprised by this complex and bold Riesling. This wine was made in collaboration with the Dr. Loosen estate in Germany's Mosel region (Riesling experts!). Jay Miller from the Wine Advocate described it in a press release as "Light straw-colored, it offers up a lovely floral, mineral, honeysuckle bouquet, crisp flavors featuring melon and pineapple, excellent balance, and a long, pure, refreshing finish." This was the first (and only) wine to run out at the wedding, and it went fast!

Screw Kappa Napa

At the very moment of my first posting, I am savoring the flavors of the Screw Kappa Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005. This wine tastes like a true Napa Cab, rich and full-bodied with dark fruit on the nose and palate with bold but well-balanced tannins.

Amazingly, it retails for around $14. I discovered this beauty during my last birthday party, a blind wine tasting. One of my dear friends brought this awesome wine, and it was easily the best of the bunch!