Snapping Turtle Chardonnay bites back

Ok, so I did it: I was lured by the lovely label...and low price... and so bought Snapping Turtle Chardonnay. The California white remains in my fridge next to Fry's milk and CoffeeMate simply because it doesn't taste so good. You might say that the Snapping Turtle Chardonnay bites back.

I remind myself that you get what you pay for and add some ice to get it really cold. Please believe me, I don't add ice to my chardonnays, but in this case, I thought that it might improve the taste.

There is one good thing about this 2009 -- besides the ultra cool label -- it contains only 12.5% alcohol so you can drink more and not get buzzed. I just can't drink more of it.

Vinted and bottled by Snapping Turtle Vineyards, the 2009 Chard did win a Gold at San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, 2011. (What??) I didn't taste the peach, no hint of vanilla oak for me. Maybe it got heated up en route through Phoenix. Maybe, at $5.99 per bottle*, it would be worth another chance. Hmmm, I do love snapping turtles - they lived in the ponds near my growing up home near Minneapolis.

"As the legend warns, never touch a Snapping Turtle™ – for if you do, it will not let go until thunder rumbles in the sky. Snap this wine up before thunder strikes again!Snapping Turtle is the stuff legends are made of" or so reads the website, dangling participle and all.

If you touch the Snapping Turtle™ let me know what you think. Does it bite back?
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Stacey Wittig is an Arizona Travel writer that writes wine reviews and gives free wine tips on her True Vine Wine Blog.

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*Purchased at Fry's Marketplace.Tweet

Nobilo Marlborough Savignon Blanc 2009 New Zealand

Nobilo Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2009  (pronounced "Nob-Eh-Lo" in New Zealand) is of the Nobilo Regional Collection, crafted from grapes of premier growing regions in New Zealand .  The aroma of this wine is heavenly -- it makes me smile. My first thought after tasting was "Great body weight -- light and crisp but still heavier than I expect for a Sauvignon Blanc."

Taste New Zealand in this bottle.

This Nobilo has an interesting nose. The maker says I should be able to detect "fruit characters of pineapple and grapefruit with secondary notes of green pepper and freshly cut nettle aromas." I get the grapefruit right off the bat, but the pineapple is more difficult. I swirl and swirl until I get a very light pineapple that is gone in an instant. No luck on the green pepper or nettles. I used to ride my pony through thigh-high nettles and although I somewhat remember a unique aroma to the crushed nettles underfoot, I certainly remember the red welts on my bare legs.

As for the palate, the grapefruit is forward followed by the taste of zingy lemon drops. Long on the palate I taste slate after a slight green pepper.

The Sauvignon Blanc grapes were harvested in April 2009 after "the most favorable summer and autumn seasons our winemakers have yet seen," says the Noblio website. We northern hemisphere dwellers need to be reminded that New Zealand's summer happens during our winter, and fall or harvest time is in April. 

When I visit New Zealand in November (test: what season will that be?), I hope to visit the Wairau and Awatere vineyards where the grapes for this 100% Sauvignon Blanc blend were grown.

Why buy a map of New Zealand when it's

 on the back of the Noblio bottle?

Nobilo is a member of 'Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand'. SWNZ provides the industry with guidelines for viticulture and winemaking practices that protect the environment. For more information on Nobilo click here.

This wine is on sale at Fry's Marketplace this week for $11.99 US ($15.99 regular price.)

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