Trumpet Fanfare! This white is a winner but.....................>

You have to guess what it is!! Yup, forumites, a brand new spanking 2nd hand blind tasting.

Good natural cork, very tall slim bottle/nice package, 12.5% alc. Cost was $23 Cdn which is pretty high looking at similar US prices.

The colour is a medium yellow, does not show any green tinges.

On the nose find it has an almost sauvignon blanc type character. Grapefruit, floral, herbal, fresh, tad aromatic with some nuttyness almost. Better half thought "apples here".

The initial mouthfeel entry on the palate of this European white was juicy, fresh, minerally, some grass, zippy acidity. Some nutty hints (chestnut?) too which adds to the complexity plus some honeysuckle. Supple in the mouth, good mid-palate, dry finish.
Do not think this has seen any oak (as is the norm), and best serve nicely chilled. Gets a tad flabby as it warms with melon, papaya in a creamy texture. Not the intention of the winemaker. I prefer the zip! Have to say, I am not too familiar with this grape variety so interesting taste session at Doris Ranch!!

So have fun trying to figure this one out! Country, appellation should be a good start, piece of cake after that!! Remember its from Europe, have fun.

Guessing at Austrian Gruner Veltliner

I'm gonna guess Alsace Gwertz! Minerally, grapefruit, mid yellow with no green

I am not too familiar with this grape variety so interesting taste session at Doris Ranch!!

Auxerrois from Alsace?

I will join in the game.

In addition to the description of the wine, Bob has given us a few clues here, so let me proceed by elimination to see if I get anywhere.

"Tall slim bottle": that rules out France, except Alsace and Anjou and rules in Germany and Austria. I have some Verdicchio from Italy in tall slim bottles and I think I have seen some, but not all, Soave and Alto Adige whites in them.

"Not very familiar grape variety": that rules out Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon blanc and Semillon and, with less certainty, GV and Chenin.

"...no...oak (as is the norm)": this reads ambiguously so I ignore it.

"...flabby as it warms": this seems to rule out really noble varieties - see my comment on noble Chenin from Anjou.

So Alsace? No mention of spice and too crisp, so not Gewurz. Also too acidic and crisp for Pinot blanc or gris. Just maybe a very good Sylvaner.

So Anjou? It sounds quite like Anjou Chenin particularly the apple and nuts but Chenin is rarely Sauvignon like. And Chenin responds well to, even needs in some cases, warmer temperatures.

So Germany and Austria? Does not sound like any German I know but Grüner Veltliner sounds promising particularly the apple bit, a lot of which I found in the Nigl range. Is GV noble enough to respond well to warming? I do not have the experience here.

So Italy? Not unlike Verdicchio CJ in some ways especially in the suppleness and not responding well to warming but there has been no nuttiness nor Sauvignon note on any Verdicchio I have drunk. Maybe Soave? The taste profile could perhaps come from one of the up and coming Southerners or a North Western Spaniard but I have seen no tall bottles there.


I guess Grüner Veltliner.

I forgot about Muscadet in my survey. It sounds too complex and aromatic for a young one but older ones from, say, Luneau-Papin do evolve in that way but lose some freshness.

So, on balance I stay with GV.

Well, like the guys over in the UK (yup, I post there too), you are all thinking pretty good. Good deductions but you are all wrong...so far!!
Everyone knows my love for white wines and Robin wrote up a wine like this a few months ago!!
The only statement I can confirm is that this wines is from Italy!!!! And not from the south.

Have a great day! I am around for about 3 hours so keep trying.

Tim wrote....and I think I have seen some, but not all, Soave and Alto Adige whites in them. Now you are getting closer, great Tim, keep going!

Well, there's another nice glue, Bob. The only Italian whites which I recall Robin's writing up recently are Verdicchio di Matelica and Soave.

The "nutty, honeysuckle....supple" don't sound like the Matelicas from Bisci which I sampled about 10 days ago, though I recall the la Monacesca as a bit softer. From the North, I don't think that it is Gavi, I don't know the Alto Adige or Friuli very well but quite a few of the features you mention were in the Pieropan Soave I also tasted 10 days ago.

So let us say Soave.

How about Tocai Friuliano?

I take no credit if I am right, Tim did all the heavy lifting here.

Tim, forget Soave.......I don't know the Alto Adige or Friuli very well , you are almost there!

How about Tocai Friuliano? Nope but keep going!

Muller-Thurgau?

Ok all, the wine is the `05 Ribolla Gialla from Poggiobello! Remember Robin posting an Advisor on a similar wine a few months back?
There is some debate on how typical this wine is but I call it as I see it!!
Thanks for taking part everyone, Tim came the closest I guess.