Fume Blanc..... Barbaresco.....

Fume Blanc		1992	Beringer

12/99. Bought locally, Dec-99 for $22.
I rarely get to taste white American wines as I much prefer the (B) Chardonnay. So I was curious to try this a la Loire wine found in a local wine shop.
COLOR: Clear pale straw yellow.
NOSE: Enticing fresh vineyard aromas with added lemony, grassy and flowery elements. Very fruity and clean, with no signs of wood tones. Really nice and promising. A beautiful expression of Sauvignon Blanc.
TASTE: Perhaps a tad less than the nose promised, but pleasant and tasty with the right balance between the alcohol, acidity and fruitiness. Tasty and unpretentious, this wine was surprisingly good for its price.
LENGTH: Not much of a length or aftertaste here.
TEXTURE & BALANCE: Medium-light body, Plenty of clean fruit. Reasonably concentrated, dry and refreshing without too many complexities or depth.
OVERALL: Very-good-plus. Considering the crazy mark-up levied by everyone and his wife when it comes to imported wines in Israel, I would guess this bottle should really cost 8-10. If that is so, then it's a damn good buy.
MARK: 16.5/20.aaaaaaaaBUY MORE? Yes.

Barbaresco		1985	Gaja

12/99. Acquired at auction, Oct-98 for $170.
Perhaps an "over-dressed" wine for an impromptu mid-weak dinner, but even a 'straight' Barbaresco, when mature and from the hands of Gaja, had the potential to turn every meal into a celebration.
COLOR: Beautiful hues of red and brown. Noticeable clearing around the rim. Plenty of sediment in the bottle and heavy 'legs' on the glass.
NOSE: Profound, deep and multi-facet nose. Ripe sweet prunes, thick chocolate, tobacco and earthy tones - all combine to give a harmonious bouquet. Wonderful awe-inspiring nose that is a pleasure to sniff at even before taking the first sip.
TASTE: Warm, mouth-filling and full of flavors. Rich sweetish winyness with complex stylish and flavorful layers. Mature yet full of life. Velvety smooth in spite of rounded tannins that are still discernible. Succulent, tasty and very impressive.
LENGTH: Extremely long aftertaste that leaves an ever-present impression in the mouth between sips.
TEXTURE & BALANCE: Full bodied with heavy silk texture. Ripe, mature and homogeneous with beautiful balance between all its harmonious elements.
OVERALL: Superb! A wonderful wine at its absolute best now.
MARK: 18.5/20.aaaaaaaaBUY MORE? Yes.

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Jacob "Yak" Shaya.