Sweet Surprise

Alice White
Lexia
10% alocohol
$7
2006

This is what happens when you don't pay attention to what you are buying. Over the past month or so, I have been purchasing wines at my local grocery store. The point of these reviews is to find some real bargains; wines that are accessible to everyone and won't break the bank. I chose Alice White because I know their chardonnay is very popular and I thought it would be a great "Wine of the Week". One sip and I was stunned. I didn't remember Alice White chardonnay being this sweet. Needless to say I had chosen the wrong wine - but what a pleasant surprise! The bouquet is one of the nicest I have ever smelled. It was like strolling through a beautiful garden. Orange blossoms and honeysuckle were everywhere! And the taste was as fruity as the smell, sweet and delicious. The wine is very round - and this may be its only drawback. If you enjoy this wine while it is cold, then the brisk crispness balances the sweetness. But if it is allowed to warm up, it becomes rather flabby, and unremarkable. I detected no oak and no earth. So you can't say that this wine was complex. But so what? It was delightfully fruity and almost like a little present for your mouth. Would I knowingly buy it again? As nice as this wine was, I would probably have to say no. If I was looking for something sweet as an aperitif, a dinner starter, I would probably go with a Moscato d'Asti. Moscato's bubbles are just so much fun. But if you like sweet wines give this Lexia a try, you can't beat the price.