This week’s column looks at five alternative food-friendly white grapes from around the world, and below are some of the specific bottles to seek out. Dry, crisp and vibrant, there’s little these wines won’t work with at the table. Serve these when you’re dining tapas-style, when there’s a bunch of different dishes on the table at the same time.
2010 Steininger Grüner Veltliner,… Kamptal, Austria $14.95 (LCBO #280842)
Clean, quite rich and flavourful, with solid complexity and substantial depth at this price. Aromas and flavours cover the white flower, citrus, orchard fruit, green apple and lightly honeyed spectrum, with a fine underlying mineral lift. Lingering finish, great balance. Fine value.
Best: 2012-2013
Serving temp.: 8ºC
Pairing: Goat cheese and arugula salad
2010 Sauvion Muscadet Sèvre Et Main Sur Lie, Loire Valley, France $12.95 (LCBO #143016)
Crisp, fresh, stony and lean: in other words, classic muscadet, with better than average weight and flavour intensity. Mouth-watering acidity, moderate 12% alcohol, white flowers and lemon-lime-oyster shell flavours complete the picture.
Best: 2012-2013
Serving temp.: 8ºC
Pairing: Mussels steamed in white wine
Alvinte Albarino 2010, Rias Baixas, Spain $14.85 (LCBO #288126)
Here’s a fine new addition to the LCBO regular listings, with above average depth and complexity for the money. Flavours are in the pear, citrus and green melon range, with some pleasant floral (apple blossom, jasmine). Acids are balanced but crisp, buffered by fleshy fruit. Very good length overall.
Best: 2012-2013
Serving temp.: 8ºC
Pairing: Grilled sardines
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John Szabo is a master sommelier and wine writer for Toronto Standard. More recommendations by John Szabo MS at www.johnswines.com. Follow his tweets here: @johnszabo.
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