2001 Alois Lageder Pinot Blanc

[JohnG]

My first pass at a Pinot Blanc. Pale straw in color, with an ample blend of fruit (pineapple, pear, green apple)on the nose. It was dry, with good fruit and a bit of honey in the mouth, and medium-bodied. It had a nice acidic zip to it, as well.

I don't know how representative this wine is of Pinot Blanc in general, but I thought that it found a nice midpoint between light, crisp whites and more full-bodied, fleshy whites. Bought at $13.99.

[stevebody]

I've been selling this stuff for years and it has never been less than delightful and graceful. It ages well, too! I unearthed a case of the '97 in our company locker that no one had spoken for and put it out for sale. I bought a bottle and it was LOVELY. The time laying down had tamed the bright acids and given the whole thing a honeyed viscosity that was wonderful on the palate. This is a seriously accomplished winery that turns out very credible reds as well.

[This message has been edited by stevebody (edited 07-01-2003).]

[JohnG]

Thanks, SB -- I'll keep an eye out for their reds as well. BTW, is this a pretty typical pinot blanc? I haven't seen too many on the shelves around here, but if this is what they deliver, I'll try more.

[Innkeeper]

That area does an excellent job on them. It probable did say Pinot Blanc on the label, and not Pinot Blanco, which tells you something about the region.

Look for those from Alsace. Hugel makes a nice journeyman one that is steady year in and year out. Other producers make them all the up to excellent.

Chateau St Jean used to make a decent one out in CA-CA land, but it did have a might of oak in it.

[JohnG]

Thanks much, IK. So far this has been the summer of Italian whites. It's been fun (not to mention very tasty) to explore new grapes and new regions.

[Innkeeper]

Way to go. We have done a 180 on Italian Whites with a little help from our friends. You might also look at the Pinot Biancos from Collio. We have been seriously into Vermentinos and Verdicchios, the latter far beyond that from Fazi Battaglia which comes in the bottle shapped like a women for seven or eight dollars, though even that one is not so bad. Excellent selections on both of these is available from Roberto right now.

As you can tell from my post down on the SB thread, our discovery of the summer is one from South Africa of all places.

[Thomas]

We made a discovery at is-wine of a Pinot Blanc from Steiermark, Austria--Strauss.

A superb wine.