Three winning whites

I’m a longtime red fan, but this summer, I’ve totally gotten into whites. The more time I spend with them, the more I appreciate their food-friendly qualities.

This weekend’s winners were the 2007 Fume Blanc from Washington State’s Hogue Cellars, which featured a range of citrus and stone fruit with hints of spice and smoke. Also, Höpler’s terrific 2007 Grüner Veltiner presents super minerality, along with hints of apple. This has got to be one of easiest grapes under the sun to pair, and I really liked this particular wine for its hints of hay and clean finish.

Finally, I’m going to go out on a limb and say I approve of Yellow Tail NV Sparkling Wine. I’m not a fan of Yellow Tail by and large, but I must say I liked this inexpensive bubbly, which featured tropical fruits and a smooth finish. This is a divisive wine, sparking some bloggers to call it gross and unappealing, and others to point out its value. One man’s trash, I suppose.

Post your winners here.