Montauk Club Wine Class Explores a World of Whites

The red-wine fanatics in our wine class were skeptical as we explored Old World (i.e. France) and the New World (in this case, California) white wines on January 17, but they were in for a surprise. And the white-wine enthusiasts, of course, were in heaven.
We began our trip this month with a 2005 Chateau de Sancerre from the Loire Valley (13% alcohol) with a 2005 Charles Krug Sauvignon Blanc from Napa Valley (13.5% alcohol). We were barely able to notice a difference in color, the Sancerre having a slightly greener tint compared to an ever so slightly more golden hue of the Charles Krug. As we put nose to glass, we detected more lush, fruitier aromas in the Charles Krug, with hints of grapefruit and banana, while the Sancerre exhibited more scents of grass, herbs and tart apple. The tasting bore out our suspicions during our blind taste test about which was the Old World wine and which was the New. The Old World Sancerre had the tart apple and, more importantly, earthy flavor compared to the lusher and riper taste of the New World wine. Which did we prefer in the end? The scales tipped gently toward the New World.
Next we dove into a 2005 Louis Jadot Macon-Villages from Burgundy (13% alcohol) and a 2006 Simi Chardonnay from Sonoma County (13.5% alcohol). Although we couldn’t really detect a difference in the wines’ color, these two proved even easier to assign to the Old World versus New when we took a whiff. The Macon-villages was described as herbaceous, more sophisticated and yet dungy, while we picked up much more fruit and even bubblegum aromas in the Simi Chardonnay. When we got to the taste, it was clear to all that the wine with a more acidic, citrus-like, complete flavor with more tannins showing through was the Macon-Villages, while the bolder wine with tastes of peach and even banana had to be the Simi Chardonnay. Did we go for the lush again in terms of preference? No! All but one of us preferred the Macon-Villages.

In February, as promised, we’ll concentrate on Old World and New World merlots and cabernet sauvignons, but white-wine lovers, don’t be afraid to join us. Remember how pleasantly surprised the red-freaks were this time?
To prepare for the class, please review pages 117 through 128 of Andrea Immer Robinson’s book if you need to, and then focus on the tasting notes for the merlots and cabernet sauvignons on pages 132 and 133.

Our February class will take place on the 21st. Please join us then at around 7:00 for another whirlwind tour of the world of wine. And please, if you can, let me know if you’ll try to attend so that I can be sure we have enough.

See you on February 21st!

Suzy Marquard