The truth is that I looked up the word 'alluvial' just
to make sure that I knew what it meant, and it means gold-
bearing, coming from the fact that there was gold in this
soil before... and I must say that this wine is a
winner.
Lately, as you know from other reviews, I have been
looking for other levels and release categories from big
wineries. So far, I have had the Napa Valley and the Third
Century from Beringer, and while I like them, I have no
love at all for their 'Stone Cellars' imprint. However, I
was sufficiently intrigued and receptive to the taste of
their Knights Valley Alluvium Blanc. Of course, when
looking at the bottle, I was wondering what the hell kind
of grape is that, but like how they named it for the soil
it comes from, and not the grape.
'The 2006 Alluvium Blanc is predominantly Sémillon (47%)
and Sauvignon Blanc (43%) with small amounts of Chardonnay
(8%) and Viognier (2%),' says the Beringer website. The
taste itself is resplendent with tangerine and pear, though
as their website says, you can also taste nectarine; I
wager that if you mixed the juices from the first two,
you'd probably get something resembling nectarine taste.
I think that this wine is going to last awhile as a nice
take on whites from America, and its smooth flavor and
finish definitely puts it as a wine that you can easily
take your time in savoring, whether you are alone, having
some chats with friends, or entertaining a large crowd.
And with the discount for purchasing a whole case, this
wine should be a nice treat at your next bash.
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