Sterling Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2007

• Area: California, Napa
• Grape: Sauvignon Blanc
• Alcohol: 13.5%
• Rating: Black 89 Dilettante 88 Nwjr 90

Description: Crisp and dry elements of pineapple, grapefruit, citrus and melon. Clean pear finish.

Price: $15

Coopers Creek Sauvignon Blanc 2008

• Area: New Zealand, Marlborough
• Grape: Sauvignon Blanc
• Alcohol: 13%
• Rating: Black 85 Dilettante 85

Description: Light in the mouth and on the nose with nuances of pear, apple, mineral, lime and grapefruit.

Price: $9

St. Urbans-Hof Reisling 2007

• Area: Germany, Mosel
• Grape: Reisling
• Alcohol: 10%
• Rating: Black 92 Dilettante 92 Nwjr 92

Description: Completely diesel free, this reisling has notes of pineapple, citrus and slate. Nicely balanced and dry with a lingering grapefruit finish.

Price: $14

St Urbans-Hof on the web

Casa Fundada Al 1897 Rigol Cava Brut (no vintage)

• Area: Spain
• Grape: 30% Macabeo, 60% Xarello, 10% Parellada
• Alcohol: 11.5%
• Rating: Black 87 Dilettante 87

Description: This sparkler has larger bubbles and a weak nose of warm biscuit. Fruity notes of pear, apple and baked bread give way to a lingering finish. Pleasing, quaffable and very simple.

Price: $13

Illahe Viognier 2008

• Area: Oregon, Willamette Valley
• Grape: Viognier
• Alcohol: 12.5%
• Rating: Black 88 Dilettante 89

Description: The expressive nose of honeysuckle, peach, honeydew and pineapple carries all the way through to the finish. Full attack with a clingy mouthfeel. The flirty finish has just enough acidity to balance the sweetness.

Price: $17

Finca La Linda 2008 Torrontes

• Area: Argentina, Mendoza
• Grape: Torrontes
• Alcohol: 14.1%
• Rating: Black 86 Dilettante 86

Description: Aromas of green apple, jasmine and orange blossoms. Light and crisp on the palate with a touch of sweetness, minerality and a hint of glycerin. Candied lemon peel gives a nice lift to the dry and rather unremarkable finish.


Price: $9

Domaine des Aubisieres Vouvray 2008

• Area: France, Vouvray, Loir
• Grape: Chenin Blanc
• Alcohol: 13%
• Rating: Black 89 Dilettante 90

Description: Lychee, honeysuckle, pineapple and starfruit make up the enticing nose. Honeysuckle on the attack accents the glycerin mouth feel. Flavors of gooseberry seeds, husk cherry, pineapple, yellow fruits and a touch of honey, lead to a bright, zesty, lingering finish. Nice concentration and elegance.

Price: $15

Note: Screw Top

Kingsford Manor Sauvignon Blanc 2008

• Area: California, Napa Valley
• Grape: Sauvignon Blanc
• Alcohol: 12.7%
• Rating: Black 89 Dilettante 89

Description: Bold, white fruit nose with a clingy mouthfeel reminiscent of a Viognier. The attack is light with tones of pear. Flavors of pink grapefruit, kiwi, and a touch of pineapple give a sweet and sour impression on a bold and dry finish. This sould be good with a variety of foods. We will buy this one again.

Price: $12

Olivier Leflaive Les Setilles 2006

• Area: France, Burgundy
• Grape: Chardonnay
• Rating: Black 88 Dilettante 88 Nwjr 89

Description: Elements of pineapple, oak and apricot are the core flavors of this wine. The attack is subtle with hints of sweet fruit. The finish is nicely dry with a lingering presence of pineapple.

Price: $20

Food: Skate with coral mushrooms

Crios De Susana Balbo Torrontes 2008

• Area: Argentina, Mendoza
• Grape: Torrontes
• Alcohol: 13.5%
• Rating: Black 90 Dilettante 90

Description: The winery's description on the back of the bottle was spot on: "Combines an intensely floral, citrusy aroma similar to viognier with the dry, crisp take of sauvingnon blanc." Absolutely no wood. Screw top.

Price: $13

Loosen Bros. Dr. L 2007

• Area: Germany, Mosel
• Grape: Riesling
• Alcohol: 8.5%
• Rating: Black 82 Dilettante 83

Descripton: A diesel nose is followed by a sweet attack of peach and tangerine. Invigorating flavors of lime finish it off.

Price: $9

Bigi Vipra Bianca 2007

• Area: Italy, Umbria
• Grape: Chardonnay, Grechetto
• Alcohol: 12.5%
• Rating: Black 88 Dilettante 88

Description: Totally un-oaked, this wine has a nice richness. Not too sweet and not too dry it has a touch of almond with a Fresca-like citrus lift. The Grechetto takes the 'edge' off the chardonnay, giving it a fresh, balanced and soft flavor. Nice.

Price: $9

Cayuga Ridge Estate Orange Muscat

• Area: New York, Cayuga Lake, Ovid
• Grape: Orange Muscat
• Alcohol: 12.7%
• Rating: Black 94 Dilettante 95

Description: Inviting aroma of peach, apricot, honeysuckle and burnt oranges. Sweet, lush and elegant, this nectar of the gods offers up flavors of honeysuckle, clementine, almonds, caramel cream, a hint of vanilla and a nice grounding herbal note. The drawn out finish has a surprising sweet/tart element with just a touch of bitter caramel.

Price: $40

Oro De Castilla Verdejo 2007

• Area: Spain, Rueda
• Grape: Verdejo
• Alcohol: 12.5%
• Rating: Black 88 Dilettante 88

Description: This white has lovely aromas of mango, peach and white flowers. The peach attack is followed glycerin mouth feel. Loads of body and character with flavors of mango, citrusy grapefruit and a dry mineral finish.

Price: $13
Food: Grouper in a Thai/French fusion style.

Finca El Origen Reserva Torrontes 2008

• Area: Argentina, Valle De Cafayate
• Grape: Torrontes
• Alcohol: 14%
• Rating: Black 90 Dilettante 90

Description: A bouquet of carnations with a touch of citrus fills the nose and attack. Fruity lemon/lime, honeydew, lychee and fresh green herbs excite the tongue. Full bodied, fresh and lightly dry. The lingering finish has an elegant peach pit finale. Not too tart, not too sweet, it was just right. We will buy this again.

Note: we preferred it a little cooler.

Price: $8

Sainte Fleur Triennes Viognier 2006

• Area: France, Var Provence
• Grape: Viognier
• Alcohol: 13%
• Rating: Black 90 Dilettante 92

Description: Luscious nose of apricot, peach, honey, flowers and straw. The attack is lightly citrus. Rich and complex, the nose follows through on the palate. It's all wrapped around a lightly creamy core. Very suave and never cloying. The finish is vibrant, light and dry with a nice touch of slate and caramel.


Price: $14

Huber Hugo 2007

• Area: Austria
• Grape: Gruner Veltliner
• Alcohol: 12%
• Rating: Black 89 Dilettante 89

Description: Refreshing aromas of pear, apple, citrus and pineapple waft out of the glass. This fruity white has a touch of glycerin for added richness. The finish has a tingly, light acidity. We liked this one.

Price: $10

Martin Codax Albarino 2007

• Area: Spain, Rias Baixas
• Grape: Albarino
• Alcohol: 13%
• Rating: Black 87 Dilettante 90 Nwjr 89

Description: This nicely balanced wine has notes of pear, pineapple, sweet florals and a hint of apple. Dry and fruity, it finishes clean with a nice minerality. Not too sweet and not too tart, it's just right.

Note: Great with conch chowder and clams on the half shell

Price: $11

Lucas Vineyards Vignoles 2007

• Area: New York, Finger Lakes, Cayuga
• Grape: Vignoles Blanc
• Alcohol: 12%
• Rating: Black 90 Dilettante 91 Nwjr 90

Description: Flavors of nectarine, tangerine and apricot highlight a honey, glycerin core. The finish has a nice lift with a hint of caramel. We really liked this one.

Price: $12

Lucas on the web

Keuka Overlook Cellars Johannisberg Riesling 2005

• Area: New York, Keuka
• Grape: Johannisberg Reisling
• Alcohol: 12.9%
• R/S: 9%
• Rating: Black 92 Dilettante 92 Nwjr 92

Description: This desert wine is surprisingly crisp and refreshing. Notes of pear, tangerine zest, paeches, and apricots. Clingy in the mouth with a nice amount of glycerine doesn't take away from it's zest. The finish is bold with a note of honey.

Price: $11 excellent value

Note: Great with roquefort. Only available directly from the winery.

Overlook Cellars on the web