Bring On The Whites!

Bring on the Whites!

When I think of Spring time, I think of green grass, flowers blooming, and in general the outdoors. After a long and cold winter in Kansas City (Marquee headquarters), I am ready for some good weather and some nice light white wines to pair with it. From a taste perspective, lighter white wines have a tendency to show many of the same flavors that Spring itself brings about… some of my favorites are: freshly cut green grass, the floral scent of lilac, mint, basil, dill, and even the smell of dandelions.

Yes, I am actually writing about the fun and ever present yellow flowers that magically turn into a white and wispy seed. At one time or another we have all been tempted to blow the seeds off these fun forms of nature’s beauty… When the weather turns warm and the grass wakes up from its winter slumber, one week behind the grass (at least in my yard), are these hearty yellow flowers that if you pull one and rub it on a piece of paper leaves a vibrant splash of color. When gardening last weekend I managed to pull a ton of these little yellow creatures out of my lawn, my hands had a bit of a green tinge and I was at once hit with a smell that was both recognizable and different, dandelions.

I thought back to my wine portfolio at Marquee Selections and in my head ran the mental list of wines to find any association that fit. I checked the cellar and, it hit me; our newest white wine, Grazioso, a blend of un-oaked Chardonnay and Torrontes, the floral white grape most well know in Argentina, has just a little bit of that fresh dandelion smell that makes me think of Spring! Grown at high altitudes in the Northern part of Mendoza , the roots of this fun association likely stem from the Chardonnay grape that makes up 60% of this white blend.

I pulled the cork a few minutes later and sure enough, whether by association or coincidence, the flavor stuck out just as if you had taken iceberg lettuce in your normal salad and switched it with wild greens. The smell and flavor is both tangy and savory at the same time. The wines acidity lets this flavor come out while still being nicely balanced by the more luscious and floral aromas in the Torrontes. Floral notes were there, but not overpowering like you find in a potpourri, they are more mellow, understated and clean as in a tulip. Delicious, thirst quenching and a delight to enjoy as the sunset closed on my back porch.

My challenge this month for you is to let me know of your next “common scent” the everyday average smell that you enjoy so that I can associate it back to the fun world of wine. Whether it’s the scent of laundry fresh from the dryer, or the cherry smell that is not bing or maraschino, but sure enough it’s cherry cough syrup… send me a line at cjcribb@marquee.com and I will share it with more friends.

Till next month, cheers to the coming of spring!

Christopher J. Cribb, CSW