WTN: Loire & Burgenland from the new and improved Alko

I've now tried a couple more from the new and improved Alko selections. Cliff notes: both are considered to be within the "natural" spectrum. Neither are weird; both are good.

Domaine de la Garrelière (François Plouzeau) Le Blanc de la Mariée 2015 - Touraine; Sauvignon Blanc; c.20€
Fairly recently I posted on this property's Cabernet Franc which I thought was really lovely. I now dared to try their Sauvignon Blanc. I hate Sauvignon Blanc. Or at least I do when it smells and tastes of all those horrible stereotypes like gooseberries and feline urine. This doesn't, so it's ok. It does smell very ripe and a little candied, but cleanly and refreshingly "sweet" rather than cloyingly so. Ethereal lightness to the ripely sweet rather than sugary fruit, nice delicate touch of bitterness and even a fleeting touch of something vaguely tannic(?) though I don't think this sees any skin contact. Points for balance. Points for fun. Points for being different to your stereotypical SB. 100 points*.

Weingut Judith Beck "Beck Ink" 2015 - Burgenland, Gols; 12,5% abv; 90% Zweigelt, 10% St. Laurent; c.16€
This is a very tasty wine. I was a bit worried that the name would imply an inky wine, but I needn't have worried. I was also worried because so many Austrian reds are so terribly serious and, though impeccably made, lack the most important feature of any wine: fun and a high evaporation rate. Well this was not inky and it was huge fun and it was so drinkable we finished the bottle without realising it and felt it should have been a magnum. But it isn't just an inconsequential juicy glouglou (as I believe they're sometimes called), but rather it transcends that and becomes a combination of pure fun and a very pure expression of Zweigelt. Leafy/earthy savoury flavours provide such a counterpoint to the juicy dark fruit that Josquin and JS Bach are envious; light and juicy but tangy and structured, but not dense or concentrated so it is very moreish. Points for style. Points for fun. Points for typicity IMO, also. 110 points* in all.

*On my -/+ infinity scale that accepts Cantorian Alephs as well.

[David M. Bueker]

They have changed their selection process?

I hate Sauvignon Blanc. Or at least I do when it smells and tastes of all those horrible stereotypes like gooseberries and feline urine...Points for being different to your stereotypical SB.

That doesn't sound like stereotypical SB, it sounds like stereotypical New Zealand (or perhaps Marlborough) SB. A very different thing!

So true Rahsaan. When you were in Berlin, did you mange to sample some German SB?

..German SB?

I've had a little, not much. But I'm not really a huge fan of SB from anywhere. Do you have strong views on German SB?

I have a higher regard for SB from Germany than many of my friends! I manage to help out at a store downtown so can taste quite often..hence the size of my cellar. I have only tasted Hezamer and Koster Wolf and have not been disappointed. I am intrigued to go back to S Africa and see what is going on there Rahsaan.
Canadian SB is a complete write off imo. .