Evolution White, 11th Edition

My first "Yanqui" wine of the month is a white from Oregon. Oregon is a rather unusual place to start given the limited production and even smaller export sales - Oregon's 300+ wineries produce just 1.6 million cases of wine each year, and just 24% of that leaves the country. It is interesting to note, however, that Canada accounts for nearly half of those exports (two thirds of it being Pinot Noir). I will confess that if I am looking for an Oregon wine, it is always a Pinot.

While you might think it was the catchy "Evolution" name and label that caught my eye, it was actually an in-store tasting that got me interested. An inexplicable blend of nine grapes (Riesling, Pinot Gris, Muller-Thurgau, Semillon, Gewurtz, Muscat, Sylvaner, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay), I would never have bought if I hadn't tasted it first.

The Evolution White, 11th Edition (Evolution is produced by the Sokol Blosser Winery) is white gold and very aromatic - the Alsace/Germanic grapes showing their stuff, I suppose. Starting with a powerful dose of white flowers, these were supported by oak, toasty bread, lemon and subtle peach aromas. On the palate this wine was very lemony, with a nice bitter persistency. Slightly effervescent as well. Opened for an evening of takeout Chinese food (Hot & Spicy), the wine paired very nicely with the Shrimp Toast (#26) and Hunan Dumplings (#20), pretty well alongside the Chicken with Crispy Spinach (#39), but paired rather poorly with the Lemon Chicken (#50) and Beef with Broccoli (#61). Nicely done.
12% alcohol
Score: 16/20
Price: C$21 (SAQ)