Kendall Jackson 2011 Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay

At first whiff of the Kendall Jackson Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay 2011, I got the aroma of white pepper and pineapple. The pineapple follows into the taste with a lot of other tropical fruit flavor. However, since I rarely eat anything tropical other than kiwi and pineapple, I couldn't tell you what the flavors are. The winemakers notes include mango and papaya. I was able to pick up the citrus taste of tangerine and lime, with a touch of gingery spice. It's a little dry for my taste at first, but softens nicely decanted. Bottom line, it was great with my dinner of sriracha salmon (recipe here) and honey ginger mushrooms (recipe above). I would stick with foods that pair well with citrus taste on this one. I tried it with a bite of cheese and was not impressed. So, fish, salads, Asian foods are probably the best bet for pairing. Kendall Jackson is the number one selling Chardonnay in the US and, because of the size of its vineyards, it can afford to keep prices reasonable, even a vintage as difficult as 2011. SRP is $13. Wine Spectator rated it 86.

Barefoot Pinot Grigio

Today was hot and humid in Kansas City...  making it hard to believe we had snow on May 5. As I ran errands for 7 hours, I kept thinking about the Barefoot Pinot Grigio I had chilling in the fridge. I finally made it home, uncorked the wine, poured and ... ahhhhh. 

Just as the name and logo suggests, this is a great wine for all the activities that summer brings, as well as the fresh salads and fruits that are available for the table. It's so light, it's practically clear in color. On the nose, there's salty grapefruit. The grapefruit flavor follows into the taste, combining perfectly with the crisp and sweet flavors of pear and apple. 

Only 12.5% alcohol makes it perfect for poolside and won't interfere with your horseshoe throw. The finish is so clean, it almost feels like I just had a breath mint. It's inexpensive, too! 

Neil Ellis Sauvignon Blanc 2011

It's 65 degrees outside. I've been shopping for a tree, top soil, plants and bulbs in anticipation of getting down and dirty — literally — tomorrow. So, in celebration of the entrance into Spring, I'm reviewing a white wine tonight, Neil Ellis Sauvignon Blanc 2011 from the Groenekloof region of South Africa. 

Wine making in South Africa goes all the way back to the mid-1600's. The vineyards have the unique advantage of a Mediterranean climate with oceanic air on three sides of dry, hot soil. The grapes grown are primarily Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay.

I specifically chose this wine because the wine maker's tasting notes described it as "savory." I'd never seen that word applied to a white, and thought, "We'll see." 

The color of the wine reminded me of yellow sapphires, which I found appealing. It's almost as if it's appearance promises a smooth, fragrant, fresh experience. On the nose, I smell ever so faintly some jasmine with grapefruit. What I especially like is that there is no "pucker" effect on the first sip, like I get with most whites. It's very smooth, no bite at all, with flavors of peach, grapefruit and herbs. And, yes, I would even say it is savory. You know the phrase "mouth watering" associated with the word savory? Most of the time it's triggered by aroma, sometimes by sight of a food you're familiar with, and it's absolutely essential to digestion. Well, I have to say, this wine is mouth watering by means of taste. My mouth is refreshed, literally, because of its nice long finish that reminds me of green tea with lemon.

It worked very well with my light dinner of hummus, fresh veggies, and rosemary crackers, but I thought it probably would have tasted even better with a Caprese salad or a nice Greek salad, maybe antipasto, something with a little more oomph to satisfy those salivary glands that are now wide awake. In fact, I think it would work well with any food, because it does not overpower the palate, but prepares it. While white wine is not my first choice, I will definitely choose this one again. Extremely affordable, about $14/bottle. Rated 86 by Wine Enthusiast and Wine Spectator, consumer reviews placed it even higher at 91.