Sorry to see the last of this wine. It was a great example of skilled winemaking (and the right grapes, of course). As a rule sauvignon blanc is not my favorite, but this wine went a long way to changing my mind. For tasting notes, see my 2/25/10 post.
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Popped and poured. Clear, light straw color. Nose typical CA FB. Taste was better than expected. Medium body, smooth, clean, fairly sharp acid/fruit but nice balance. Nothing off. Drink now.
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Very pale yellow color. Nice flavors of pear and maybe some nectarine on the palate. Nicely balanced acidity and a great finish with floral notes and a little pineapple. More complex than most sauvignon blancs. Goes great with pizza with goat cheese, caramelized onions.
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Very light color in the glass. Zippy with citrus flavors dominating on the palate. Seemed to lack any "weight" on the tongue - but certainly made the mouth water and with its ample acidity. Overall an average- tasting bottle of Fume Blanc.
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Really enjoyed this wine. It had a nice tropical flavor with pinneaple coming through. It was very smooth and balanced with a nice lingering finish and moderate acidity.
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Stimmel's Market: Sonoma: Closed nose, with a little floral lemon/grapefruit coming through. Rich, buttery, oaky. Low acidity makes this a quaffer that would lose against food. Simple. $16
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Popped and poured lightly chilled. Consistent with other notes - - - Nose has citrus oil, creamy tropical fruit and light mineral notes. Palate is very balanced with light toasted/smoky oak early on followed by apple, pear, mineral & hints of banana. Nice acidity & mineral notes on the finish.
Good bang for the buck IMHO.
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Not your typical sauvignon blanc, indeed! Light yellow in the glass, the nose features a soft character in keeping with the semillon blend, featuring honeydew, pineapple, banana, and a touch of oaky citrus. An initial soft though full mouthfeel of grapefruit and strawberries is followed by a build of acidity through the mid-palate and persistent finish, ending with a slightly flinty note. I do not appreciate any of the smoky character several other reviewers have noted. Overall, this is an excellent departure from your typical sauvignon/fumé blanc, quite complex, and appropriate for a wide range of settings and food choices.
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Beautiful floral bouquet, pear graced with cardamom, a touch of lemon zest & grapefruit on the finish. Refreshing, zesty, and dry with a long finish (for Fume).
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Lemongrass, and citrus in the nose, a chalky, mineral grassy, and herb taste on the palate. A well made wine for those who like grassy, herb style sb. Not my favorite.
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Honey, melon, lemon, and a slight butter custard dominate the nose and palate of this silky SB. The mouthfeel is tangy, smooth, and well-developed, with a chalky minerality that pops in the finish. This is clearly oaked, although only slightly, providing a nice balance and something extra. Good wine; great value!
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This oaked sauvignon blanc/semillon blend is something legitimately different from your average chard or sauv blanc. A nice balance of citrus, oak and something a little smoky or coffee-like. Tasty and refreshing, with a smooth finish. Great value.
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-- Popped and poured -- -- Consumed over 4 hours --
NOSE: light; faintly citrusy; hint of sweatsocks (this struck me as an odd scent for a white wine); honeydew melon and a hint of green pear.
BODY: clear; faint green-yellow color; medium bodied.
TASTE: strong mineral notes lead into a surprisingly smooth finish. Notes of coffee grounds faintly permeate the slightly smoky aftertaste. This wine has a nice lush mouthfeel and enjoyable acidity, which I found to be much gentler and toned down from a typical NZ Sauv. Blanc, for example.
I was initially a bit confused by this wine, as I thought I was drinking a 100% Sauvignon Blanc that had been lightly oaked. The wine's profile made a lot more sense to me when I read the back of the bottle and found out Semillon is blended in. The label doesn't say what percentage of the wine is Semillon. A very nice white. I would most certainly buy again ($13).
B: 50, 5, 12, 17, 8 = 92 points.
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Very pale golden color. Full nose of pear and slight citrus. The palate is full bodied with apple, peach, and a hint of lemon zest. Good acidity and a long clean finish make this wine very enjoyable.
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Clean and clear. VERY pale with only a hint of straw coloring. Subtle grapefruit with ripe pear on the nose. Not like a NZ Sauv. Blanc at all. A llttle element of vegetable or olive on the nose. Nice round, mouth-coating mouthfeel. Much more body than your usual SB. I didn't get too much oak but it clearly contributed to the body. Good acidity and longish clean finish.
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Pear dominated the nose, not much else there. The palate though is a different story. Pear was still noticeable, but was also laced with minerals, almost a ginger flavor. I didn't experience the overly oaky taste that some others did. Very nice in the mouth.
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Nice lemon cream, melon, grass, grapefruit, lime.....more on the creamy side than the crisp SB's...but as an alternative to Chard...it works! Floral and refreshing. Not too oaked imo. Good qpr.
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Can really taste the oak and the the blended semillion. Lacks the crispness of a true Sauv Blanc, and the citrus notes are not as sharp. Well worth trying and experimenting with.
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You can definitely spot the Semillon and oak influences here; the wine is softer, fuller, and broader than you might otherwise expect from an SB. Still, there's a mouth-watering kick in the middle somewhere, surrounded by simple peach, grass, and herb (bordering on flower). It's the perfect SB when you want something cheap and cheerful but without food. Like almost all of CSJ's wines, it's a fantastic value.
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The color is light straw and very pale. Nose brings a hint of apple and faint peach. Fantastic tart fruit on the palate, with a lemon/citrus nectar which lingers into the lively finish. Finish is medium length, with ample acidity balancing the abundant fruit flavors. Not hugely complex, but delicious. This is going for $8.99 and I'm going back for more. Drink now through 2009.
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2/27/2021 - Texas22Bull wrote: 89 Points
Crisp and fresh still
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12/24/2010 - ruffem wrote: 89 Points
Sorry to see the last of this wine. It was a great example of skilled winemaking (and the right grapes, of course). As a rule sauvignon blanc is not my favorite, but this wine went a long way to changing my mind. For tasting notes, see my 2/25/10 post.
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7/12/2010 - ruffem wrote:
See previous note.
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7/6/2010 - Barry Notes wrote: 89 Points
Popped and poured. Clear, light straw color. Nose typical CA FB. Taste was better than expected. Medium body, smooth, clean, fairly sharp acid/fruit but nice balance. Nothing off. Drink now.
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2/25/2010 - ruffem wrote: 89 Points
Very pale yellow color. Nice flavors of pear and maybe some nectarine on the palate. Nicely balanced acidity and a great finish with floral notes and a little pineapple. More complex than most sauvignon blancs. Goes great with pizza with goat cheese, caramelized onions.
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11/20/2009 - arass wrote: 82 Points
crisp refreshing. a little sweet for a fume blanc. green apple flavors. a whole lot of body, maybe a little too heavy to be a great hot weather wine.
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10/26/2009 - Cobbster wrote: 87 Points
Consistent with prior tasting.
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10/13/2009 - Cobbster wrote: 87 Points
Very nice bouquet. Apple and pear flavors and a hint of toasty oak in the finish.
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7/3/2009 - kuhawk88 wrote: 86 Points
Very light color in the glass. Zippy with citrus flavors dominating on the palate. Seemed to lack any "weight" on the tongue - but certainly made the mouth water and with its ample acidity. Overall an average- tasting bottle of Fume Blanc.
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6/23/2009 - Ajpeek wrote: 89 Points
Beautiful color, golden oak with citrus, balanced finish.
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5/24/2009 - garetjax_kison wrote: flawed
Bottle tasted "off". May have been corked but borderline if it was.
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5/13/2009 - pat maturo wrote: 89 Points
Really enjoyed this wine. It had a nice tropical flavor with pinneaple coming through. It was very smooth and balanced with a nice lingering finish and moderate acidity.
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4/18/2009 - joshwoodward wrote: 86 Points
Stimmel's Market: Sonoma: Closed nose, with a little floral lemon/grapefruit coming through. Rich, buttery, oaky. Low acidity makes this a quaffer that would lose against food. Simple. $16
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12/15/2008 - bccdavid wrote:
90: had with salad and Shrimp scampi. Great match.
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10/15/2008 - brythephotoguy wrote: 88 Points
Popped and poured lightly chilled. Consistent with other notes - - - Nose has citrus oil, creamy tropical fruit and light mineral notes. Palate is very balanced with light toasted/smoky oak early on followed by apple, pear, mineral & hints of banana. Nice acidity & mineral notes on the finish.
Good bang for the buck IMHO.
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10/10/2008 - The Dabbler wrote: 89 Points
Really nice value. Lemon citrus with refreshing acidity. Paired up nicely with my grilled calamari, octopus & shrimp.
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8/9/2008 - terson wrote: 89 Points
Nose had mineral and orange-blossom notes; flavor filled with apple
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8/3/2008 - DenisLee wrote:
Very drinkable. Nothing noteworthy, but a good effort.
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7/21/2008 - grafstrb wrote: 90 Points
-- popped and poured --
-- tasted non-blind --
-- Tasting Note reflects Day 2 --
NOSE: Primary aromas of crisp citrus and toasty oak; the slightly reticent NOSE also displays elements of smoke and cantoloup & honeydew melons.
BODY: light straw green-yellow color; clear; medium bodied
TASTE: strong flavors of pear and golden delicious apple; sweet tasting; light oak treatment; hole near back of mid-palate; medium length finish.
B: 50, 5, 12, 16, 7 = 90
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7/15/2008 - wicozani wrote: 88 Points
Not your typical sauvignon blanc, indeed! Light yellow in the glass, the nose features a soft character in keeping with the semillon blend, featuring honeydew, pineapple, banana, and a touch of oaky citrus. An initial soft though full mouthfeel of grapefruit and strawberries is followed by a build of acidity through the mid-palate and persistent finish, ending with a slightly flinty note. I do not appreciate any of the smoky character several other reviewers have noted. Overall, this is an excellent departure from your typical sauvignon/fumé blanc, quite complex, and appropriate for a wide range of settings and food choices.
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6/25/2008 - agebob wrote: 88 Points
Beautiful floral bouquet, pear graced with cardamom, a touch of lemon zest & grapefruit on the finish. Refreshing, zesty, and dry with a long finish (for Fume).
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6/15/2008 - ScottGoodwin wrote:
Consistent with 2/8/08 notes. Had this one open for three days and tasted almost better on day three! Excellent summer wine and great QPR.
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6/12/2008 - wineshaman wrote: 86 Points
Lemongrass, and citrus in the nose, a chalky, mineral grassy, and herb taste on the palate. A well made wine for those who like grassy, herb style sb. Not my favorite.
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6/6/2008 - danstrings wrote: 86 Points
Cyn dinner for Rob and gang -- Decent value but seemed much more lean, sharp and one dimensional than I would like.
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5/29/2008 - WG198 wrote: 91 Points
Great with sauteed shrimp and rice.
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5/23/2008 - smphelps wrote: 88 Points
Light and airy with flavors of lemon and honeydew. a little cream or butter on the finish that is nice.
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5/11/2008 - jfp wrote: 89 Points
Honey, melon, lemon, and a slight butter custard dominate the nose and palate of this silky SB. The mouthfeel is tangy, smooth, and well-developed, with a chalky minerality that pops in the finish. This is clearly oaked, although only slightly, providing a nice balance and something extra. Good wine; great value!
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4/14/2008 - will2wine wrote: 90 Points
This oaked sauvignon blanc/semillon blend is something legitimately different from your average chard or sauv blanc. A nice balance of citrus, oak and something a little smoky or coffee-like. Tasty and refreshing, with a smooth finish. Great value.
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4/2/2008 - Coleman wrote: 89 Points
Lemongrass, citrus, cantaloupe. Good acidity. Crisp and refreshing, with good structure and a lush mouthfeel.
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3/23/2008 - danstrings wrote: 86 Points
Fresh and fruity, but a bit of a cloying one-dimensionalness that I couldn't quite enjoy fully.
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3/18/2008 - buddy22 wrote: 89 Points
Crisp and clean. Near perfect acidity. Enjoyed this very much
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2/22/2008 - grafstrb wrote: 92 Points
-- Popped and poured --
-- Consumed over 4 hours --
NOSE: light; faintly citrusy; hint of sweatsocks (this struck me as an odd scent for a white wine); honeydew melon and a hint of green pear.
BODY: clear; faint green-yellow color; medium bodied.
TASTE: strong mineral notes lead into a surprisingly smooth finish. Notes of coffee grounds faintly permeate the slightly smoky aftertaste. This wine has a nice lush mouthfeel and enjoyable acidity, which I found to be much gentler and toned down from a typical NZ Sauv. Blanc, for example.
I was initially a bit confused by this wine, as I thought I was drinking a 100% Sauvignon Blanc that had been lightly oaked. The wine's profile made a lot more sense to me when I read the back of the bottle and found out Semillon is blended in. The label doesn't say what percentage of the wine is Semillon. A very nice white. I would most certainly buy again ($13).
B: 50, 5, 12, 17, 8 = 92 points.
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2/11/2008 - whynblog wrote: 88 Points
Very pale golden color. Full nose of pear and slight citrus. The palate is full bodied with apple, peach, and a hint of lemon zest. Good acidity and a long clean finish make this wine very enjoyable.
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2/8/2008 - ScottGoodwin wrote:
Clean and clear. VERY pale with only a hint of straw coloring. Subtle grapefruit with ripe pear on the nose. Not like a NZ Sauv. Blanc at all. A llttle element of vegetable or olive on the nose. Nice round, mouth-coating mouthfeel. Much more body than your usual SB. I didn't get too much oak but it clearly contributed to the body. Good acidity and longish clean finish.
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1/17/2008 - Tom H. wrote: 88 Points
Pear dominated the nose, not much else there. The palate though is a different story. Pear was still noticeable, but was also laced with minerals, almost a ginger flavor. I didn't experience the overly oaky taste that some others did. Very nice in the mouth.
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12/27/2007 - Mrbuzz wrote: 89 Points
Nice lemon cream, melon, grass, grapefruit, lime.....more on the creamy side than the crisp SB's...but as an alternative to Chard...it works! Floral and refreshing. Not too oaked imo. Good qpr.
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10/31/2007 - MeMyself&I wrote: 86 Points
A nice change from our typical chardonnay fare around here. Soft round fruit, hints of oak, scent of grass on the nose.
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10/19/2007 - cormyr wrote: 87 Points
presentable but not a blockbuster. a bit oaky and bland for a sauv blanc.
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9/15/2007 - jhatch wrote: 87 Points
Can really taste the oak and the the blended semillion. Lacks the crispness of a true Sauv Blanc, and the citrus notes are not as sharp. Well worth trying and experimenting with.
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9/12/2007 - Stephan O wrote: 88 Points
You can definitely spot the Semillon and oak influences here; the wine is softer, fuller, and broader than you might otherwise expect from an SB. Still, there's a mouth-watering kick in the middle somewhere, surrounded by simple peach, grass, and herb (bordering on flower). It's the perfect SB when you want something cheap and cheerful but without food. Like almost all of CSJ's wines, it's a fantastic value.
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8/13/2007 - Grinder wrote: 90 Points
The color is light straw and very pale. Nose brings a hint of apple and faint peach. Fantastic tart fruit on the palate, with a lemon/citrus nectar which lingers into the lively finish. Finish is medium length, with ample acidity balancing the abundant fruit flavors. Not hugely complex, but delicious. This is going for $8.99 and I'm going back for more. Drink now through 2009.
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