Wine Review Wednesday: ForeFront Sauvignon Blanc 2008

With springtime finally threatening to come to town after a brutal winter here on the East coast, it's time to start thinking about wines that look forward to the warmer days ahead. I have a hard time imagining a better way to kick off the season than with the ForeFront (by Pine Ridge Vineyards) Sauvignon Blanc 2008.

It starts off with fruit that tends in the direction of peach and pineapple, though that brightness is complicated by creamy notes of green bell pepper and something that reminds me, charmingly, of spinach dip. A hint of white-blossom flower lends it all a sense of prettiness.

The palate, on the other hand, is surprisingly compact and mineral, with green apple and blue slate, as well as nicely balanced acidity. You might even find a touch of pleasantly bitter walnuts in there. This is a subtle, well-crafted Sauvignon Blanc, a versatile pairing partner at the table, and an excellent prelude to the season.

And, after the winter we’ve just had, a well-deserved treat.

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Forefront Pinot Noir 2008

The nose here is beguiling, its high-toned notes of black cherry, sous bois, mushroom, and spice heading in the direction of Burgundy but kept firmly rooted on this side of the ocean by its effusive hints of cola. All of this is beautifully balanced, and on the palate, lovely fruit comes soaring through. Cream soda, sweet spiced cherries, juicy, concentrated berry fruit, and a hint of milk chocolate and caramel lead to a finish that turns more earthy yet still stays refreshing. This is a muscular wine that never loses its sense of elegance, and reminds me, in certain regards, of a sort of New World Gevry-Chambertin. Rarely is Willamette Pinot this well-crafted, and this expressive, so affordable.

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