could easily be confused with one of its German or Austrian counterparts, given its dryness, sleekness and mineral component.

A good example of a fairly sweet style. Flavors of nectarine, peach and mandarin orange. Medium bodied.

Pretty nose of peach and lemon zest with generous peach, apple, almond and hazelnut flavors; crisp, balanced palate, pleasant finish.

The linalool scent of Fruit Loops carries this floral, musky riesling. There's no structure, just sweet fruit, ready to chill for afternoon tea.

Peachy-melon-grassy aroma; full fruit flavors, crisp acidity, balanced finish. A blend of Semillon and Sauvignon. Good with fresh oysters Asian-spiced foods.

A subtle nose that balances fruit and oak, the palate is well textured.

Hints of cocoa, brush and dried orange add a bit of intrigue to a rich blend of sweet oak and ripe cherries in the neatly married aromas. While each of these elements peeks through in the flavors, they are subordinate to a simpler theme of emphatic ripeness here, and the wine is never quite so complex as it is generous.

…crisp, elegant, citrusy offering with good fruit and ripeness, medium body, and a dry finish.

Because of its softness and light lanolin-tinged flavors, classic for semillon, you'll appreciate this wine but maybe wonder how to use it, especially in the context of a meal. It would work best as an aperitif, well chilled.

Pale straw appearance. Medium-bodied. Full acidity. Moderately extracted. Tart peach, lemon, vanilla. Faint vanilla notes with lemony aromas that follow through on the palate. A red tart with subtle oak.

Fragrant scents of yellow hers and chamomile. flower blossoms and pollen give this clean wine a light touch. Match its honeyed spice to a spring salad of beets and arugula.

Medium straw color. Medium-bodied. Moderately extracted. Oak spice, mild citrus fruits. Spicy oak with floral accents on the nose. Aromas are fully expressed on the palate with rather simple fruity flavors.

Because of its softness and light lanolin-tinged flavors, classic for semillon, you'll appreciate this wine but maybe wonder how to use it, especially in the context of a meal. It would work best as an aperitif, well-chilled.

High in bracing acidity, with flavors of green grapes and stone.

Better is the honeyed grapefruit/passion fruit-filled, aromatic, pure, vibrant 1999 Sauvignon Blanc Vintner's Reserve.

Soft, juicy, ripe, a little on the plain side as to varietal character but quite presentable, this wine tastes slightly sweet...

The gospel of ripe fruit according to Jess Jackson finds its manifestation here. This is a rich, soft, full-bodied wine saved from being cloying by crisp green apple flavors at the back of the palate and long, tangy finish. It was also one of the few wines in this tasting that steadily improved in the glass. Pair it with rich-tasting foods like lobster and scallops.

It leads with grassy and lemony scents and follows in the mouth with a sugar sweetened version of the same play.

A Chardonnay look-alike, with pronounced vanilla and butter notes and subtle peach flavors.

…round and fruity, and it goes down easy.

A medium-bodied wine that offers light citrus and herb notes, with hints of green apple and minerals on the finish. Clean and fresh.

…grassy, herbaceous, citrus qualities generally associated with Sauvignon Blancs, though its acid was balanced by a touch of sweetness in the finish. It's a full bodied wine with a pronounced creamy texture, making it a good match with shellfish in assertive sauces, toasted nuts or grilled vegetables.

"Tropical fruit, floral nose' soft, fleshy flavors, ripe melons, hint of grass; medium acidity; medium fruit finish. Good with fried fish and chips, corn chowder.

A bit more forward with its lettuce leaf and sorrel varietal aromas then it is with fruit, the wine rests on a bit of sweetness in the mouth to full out its flavors. With enough acid to balance and a clean, if slightly sugary finish, this tasty wine will make a fine partner to chicken dishes with a bit of sweetness in their makeup, and also to may Chinese preparations of chicken and pork.

This dry white wine offers rich flavors of figs, melons, peach, pear, wood smoke and herbs. With its rounded, oak-mellowed texture, this is a sauvignon blanc that is well-suited for serving with salmon or swordfish.