DUCKING THE IRE OF MR. HEATMISER: VS ALL STAR BRIAN’S PRECURSORY GRAPE JUICE OUTBURST, OR PART ONE OF THE FORMAL ROLLOUT OF THE GRAPES OF SPAIN

Leading off on a rare Monday foray into the Whino’s Studio, VS All Star Brian dropped in with a quick quartet of international hits:

Lobster Reef Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2010. Grade=Outstanding. I’ve been noticing something of a trend toward anti-grapefruit SBs from NZ. This one shows off nice hints of lime, basil, cilantro, jalepeno and even a note of green tomato. Softer and more subtle than a lot of its Marlborough counterparts; very nice.

Josef Leitz Leitz Out Riesling QbA 2009. Grade=Outstanding. Starting out as a Spatlese, this ends up slightly dry with some pretty nuances of white peach, golden cherries, a bit of lime and some underlying wet stones. Nice acidity leading into a vibrant, fruit-driven finish.

Reuscher-Haart Riesling Piesporter QbA 2009 (liter bottle). Grade=Outstanding+. I really like this wine with its fresh-pressed golden apples, Georgia peaches, a touch of mint, white tea leaves and white flowers.

Uccelliera Rosso di Montalcino 2008. Grade=Outstanding. A solid Sangiovese, only slightly youthful – an old soul of a wine with earth red cherry, dark plum, tobacco, black olives and cedar smoke.