2011 Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc

Cloudy Bay Vineyards is located in the town of Blenheim in the Marlborough section of New Zealand. The winery produces two Sauvignon Blancs, a Chardonnay, a Pinot Noir, and a sparkling wine.

The 2011 Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc was 100% Sauvignon Blanc. The wine was aged in stainless steel tanks for 3 to 5 months. The label listed ABV was 13.5%.

The 21st of June 2012 was International Sauvignon Blanc day. For the occasion, I set out to find a suitable bottle for consumption. I couldn’t recall drinking a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, so I decided to give the Cloudy Bay a try.

We really do need more wine holidays.

2011 Leone de Castris Five Roses

Leone de Castris is based in the town of Salice Salentino in the Puglia region of southeastern Italy. The winery produces no less than 26 red, white, and rose wines (that’s a lot of wine!), 3 sparkling wines, grappa, and olive oil.

The 2011 Leone de Castris Five Roses was 90% Negroamaro and 10% Malvasia, more specifically, Black Malvasia from Lecce. The wine was aged for a minimum of one month in steel tanks, and for an additional month in the bottle prior to release. The listed ABV was 12.5%. The wine’s classification was IGT.

In my search for an Italian Rosati for the coming summer months, the kind gentlemen at Basil T’s, a local Italian restaurant, had recommended I try the Caves de Donnas Larmes du Paradis and the Leone de Castris Five Roses.

Leone de Castris lays claim to Five Roses being the first Rose bottled in Italy, back in 1943. With that reputation and the positive experience I had with the Larmes du Paradis, I was looking forward to tasting this wine.

2008 Dom Bardo Albarino

Bodegas Dom Bardo is located in the Pontevedra province in the Rias Baixas section of Spain.

The winery is owned by a cooperative of several vineyards and produces only one white wine.

The 2008 Dom Bardo Albarino was 100% Albarino and was aged in stainless steel vats (I wish I’d know that prior to purchase!).

I was looking for a new white to cook with (and to sip while cooking, of course) and this Albarino caught my eye. In hindsight, I wish it hadn’t.