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Posts Tagged ‘kiwi’

2007 Casal Novo Godello

Monday, April 13th, 2009

89/A-

Tasted by Mike Supple - 31 Mar 2009

Pale lemon core with a clear rim. Crisp, fresh aromas of white grapefruit and lime with a hint of honey and ripe honeydew melon. Reminiscent of a Sauvignon Blanc, but with softer melon notes. Surprisingly creamy on the palate entry. Round and full with flavors of kiwi, honeydew and citrus all backed by a wet stone minerality on the finish.

This is a stunning and unique summer wine that is a must, because you’ve probably never tried anything like it. It’s made from the Godello grape, a rare variety local to Valdeorras. Has all the great citrus-crisp intensity of a fresh New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, but hits you in the mouth with amazing balance, creaminess and full body. A definite winner for lounging in the sun on a picnic, but it will also stand up impressively well to full-bodied, meaty fish like tuna or shark on the grill.

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2008 Mulderbosch Chenin Blanc

Monday, April 13th, 2009

90/A

Tasted by Mike Supple - 30 Jan 2009

Pale lemon yellow color with a clear rim. Fresh and light aromas of cantaloupe melon and lime with a touch of minerality and some light floral notes. Sweet kiwi and honeydew fruits on the front palate. Crisp, clean, fresh and dry (no sugar) with a medium length finish.

Chenin Blanc (or Steen as it is called in South Africa) can be a very refreshing and delicious wine when made right, and this one from Mulderbosch is a fantastic example. Aside from some parts of France, South Africa is generally the only region in the world that manages to capture the delicacy of this wine, bringing out impressive flavors while keeping it all in balance. This is a great value for South Africa, and a great value for Chenin Blanc from anywhere. A perfect drink before or after a meal, and it goes very well with white fish or vegetable stir fry. (It says “Steen Op Hout” on the label, which in Afrikaans means “Chenin Blanc aged in wood”.)

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NV Varnier-Fanniere Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut

Tuesday, January 20th, 2009

89 / B+

Tasted by Mike Supple - 15 Oct 2007

Medium lemon yellow in the glass. A touch of berry fruit and ripe melon aromas with notes of kiwi and lime. Very spicy on the palate with big clove and nutmeg notes over yellow apple, lemon, lime and a touch of toast. The lingering toast aromas lead in to chocolate flavors.

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