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Le Rime 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 |
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"Banfi's lovely Le Rime...notes of apple and pear combined with a well-proportioned palette of bright, tangy citric elements."
“. . .has a medium body and stays crisp. Flavors are ripe but light with apple and maybe a little tropical banana. Clean and a nice drinking white.”
The old favorite, chardonnay, and the new favorite, pinot Gris, are blended in this bright, light summer wine that will be equally at home at the pool, beside the grill or at the picnic table. Citrusy, with hints of melon and peaches, it would light up a pasta salad or Vietnamese spring roll. “Wine of the Week”
This combination of 70 percent Chardonnay and 30 percent Pinot Grigio produced an unusual mixture of pear, apple, tropical fruit, lemon and perfume aroma. In the mouth, it was lighter than a Chardonnay, but very fruity.
“Pinot Grigio (30%) and Chardonnay (70%) are nurtured to perfection in select hillside vineyards of the Banfi estate. These result in a delightfully harmonious wine with a pale, straw-yellow colour, fruit-forward aromas of tropical fruits, pears and citrus enriched by floral notes. Light, refreshing, lively and crisp, full bodied replete with refreshing acidity. Chilled well in hot months to come and serve at 6°to 8° C with a full range of foods including pasta, vegetables, and fish, seafood, veal and poultry dishes.” Wine of the Week
"This white wine from Tuscany takes advantage of the combined strengths of both grapes; aromatic and fruity with scents of white flowers and citrus, yet crisp and dry with refreshing acidity as well. No heavy-handed flavors of oak or vanilla in this one."
"This innocuous, large-volume (60,000 cases) Chardonnay-Pinot Grigio blend deals orange and apple cider on the nose, followed by chunky melon, peach and apple flavors..."
“The color is silver with a touch of vibrant yellow green. The aroma is muted and chalky. The taste has crisp tartness surrounded by very pleasant citrus fruit character. If you like clean and dry, you'll like it.” 85
“This is a delicate wine with elegant body and texture for delicate dishes. There is no oak treatment, no vanilla or coconut, just subtle citrus, herbal, and apple flavors. You could have this wine with light foods or as an aperitif. The Banfi Le Rime has appeared on these pages before; it just continues to impress me, and it costs about $10.”
“This is a straightforward, food-friendly white that makes a versatile addition to the table. It's dry, crisp and clean, medium bodied, and has attractive flavours of apple, pear, and peach. A very good price and a perfect white for seafood appetizers.” * * * ½
“A well priced white with some fruity jump and mineral expression. Expect lemon-lime, pear, Granny Smith apple scents and some minerally complexity on the nose. Very dry with some citrus fruit evident from start to finish. Mid-weight with good length. Drink now while everything is still fresh.” 86
“An unusual blend of Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay, it has the delicate aromatics of Pinot Grigio with body and roundness in the mouth more closely associated with Chardonnay. There is no evidence of oak in either aroma or taste, leaving a clean, fresh, yummy white for easy drinking either on its own or with light appetizers or shellfish.” 86
“Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay blend, a nice alternative to Chard at a great price, lively and fresh. A bargain.”
“Banfi’s Le Rime is always one of the most charming inexpensive white wines available. For 2004, the wine repeats the effort. It’s crisp and dry and delicate, bursting with notes of almond and almond blossom, lime peel and orange rind; in the mouth, it adds a squeeze of cleansing grapefruit astringency with dried spice and some limestone and flint on the finish. A great aperitif or suitable with light fish and seafood dishes.” VERY GOOD
“A crisp dry white wine that has an attractive apple and citrus aroma, no oak aging, and a nice crispness despite being soft and rather simple. An easy-to-quaff wine from Italy.” Wine of the Week
“Great for picnics, the beach and concerts in the park, this light and refreshing white is made from mostly pinot Grigio grapes with a bit of chardonnay added for complexity. Crisp, easy drinking . . .Perfect for salads, fresh (not fried) spring rolls, pla neung sii-ew.”
“. . . a light, crisp wine with citrus and apple flavors dominating. Le Rime can be drunk chilled on its own, as an aperitif or with a light pasta or fish.”
“ Here’s a nontraditional blend fashioned out of light, typically minerally Pinot Grigio that has been rounded out and fattened up with Chardonnay. Together they make a very drinkable, refreshing, unoaked white with mild green apple, pear, green tea and mineral flavors.” * * *
“This is a fantastic summer value, fun, with a refreshing tartness. The blending of the two grapes gives it a little more richness than either might have alone, along with the citrus character. It’s my top white in the cheap-wine category.”
“. . . lushly fruity, melons and lemons, light-bodied, spicy, dry but rich.”
“Light, fresh Pinot Grigio rounded out with Chardonnay makes a lovely, soft Italian white with hints of green apple, pear, green tea and mineral flavors.”
". . .an excellent white wine. . . .The wine has a lovely blend of pear and citrus aromas and crisp flavors with a touch of creamy texture through a dry, well-balanced but fruity finish. A very versatile wine, and an excellent value." Best Buy Recommendation Highly Recommended
"Simple, sweet apple flavors bright with acidity make this a good pour to chill for grilled shrimp." Good Value
"This blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio is the perfect balance between the two varieties. The wine is dry but not austere, and it should work nicely with a wide variety of lighter-weight foods. A great value." Wine of the Week
"Lushly fruity, melons and lemons, light-bodied, spicy, dry but rich."
"This blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio is the perfect balance between the two varieties. The chardonnay gives slight richness on the tongue along with a trace of apple and peach fruit. The Pinot Grigio has a trace of spice and tropical fruit. The wine is dry but not austere, and it should work nicely with a wide variety of lighter-weight foods. A great value."
"Here’ s a reasonably priced, very pleasant blend from Tuscany; when swirled, it gives aromas of apple, pear, some cut hay, and a touch of black pepper. It’s tart, fresh and crisp, yet it won’t blister the inside of your mouth. You could have a glass of the Le Rime alone or with lunch on a warm spring day, and you’d find it lovely."
"Can't decide whether to have Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio tonight? Have both - in the same bottle. The wine is predominantly Chardonnay, but the 30 percent Pinot Grigio gives it a round citrus and peach flavor. Add pears and almonds and you have one crisp sipping wine."
"Flowery, slightly sweet, and light, this Italian import is a wonderful alternative to white zinfandel."
"Light bodied with pear, toast, and tropical fruit; pleasant finish. Light veal dishes. Buy and serve youngest vintage available."
"It's a delightfully dry summer quaff with crisp flavors of apple, lemon, white pepper, nuts, slate and sweet pea. It would be great with sautéed soft crabs."
"Hot summer days and patio furniture need a delicate, clean, refreshing beverage. Hence, a Chardonnay-Pinot Grigio blend called Le Rime from Banfi. This 2002 vintage has clean, focused citrus fruit and a light-weight mouth. It's the perfect background for an afternoon patio liaison."
"...fresh, clean white. It's a blend of 70 percent Chardonnay and 30 percent Pinot Grigio and comes entirely from Banfi's estate vineyards."
"Pale celery hue. Forward aromas of banana peel, lime and grapefruit. Spritzy mouth-feel with flavors of grapefruit and pear. Youthful, lively close. " 85
"Banfi makes an excellent Chardonnay/Pinot Grigio blend called Le Rime. The 2002 vintage, just released at $9 (usually discounted to $7 or less) is delicious, with lemon and melon aromas, a delicate entry and a soft finish without oak to cover the fruit."
"Think of Pinot Grigio with a softer texture. That's Le Rime, a blend of 30 percent Pinot Grigio and 70 percent Chardonnay. The Pinot Grigio is evident in the aromas (pear and toast) and the Chardonnay comes through on the palate (tropical fruit and pears)."
"A fresh, floral summer quaffer"
"Very pale straw in color, verging on clear, with just a hint of green, this blend of Chardonnay (70%) and Pinot Grigio (30%) has a big, forward, "clean" nose of lemon zest and fennel, with hints of apple. On the palate, it's light bodied and has a nice mouth feel with just a touch of unctuousness. Well structured, with good acidity for food, it offers tart lemon flavors followed by some apple-cider notes. It finishes nicely, with crisp apple flavors. A great everyday white that would be perfect with most white-fish dishes as well as with pasta salads."
"This refreshing Italian blend is very crisp, with flavors of green apple and lemon. Perfect for the warmer days ahead."
"Another white that fits the fresh and zippy profile is Banfi Le Rime 2001, a blend of 70 per cent Chardonnay and 30 per cent Pinot Grigio. The grape mix is a sensible idea. The slightly richer Chardonnay offers up structure while the northern Italian Pinot Grigio brings a crisp, mineral, acidic edge to the wine. Look for a low-key, mineral/kiwi and grapefruit rind nose. There's some decent weight and body (from the Chardonnay) with mineral, green apple, pear and almond flavours with a touch of passion fruit and citrus rind (from the Pinot Grigio) in the finish."
". . .dry and crisp, soft and round and delightfully imbued with touches of honeysuckle and acacia, almond and lemon and lime; a modest dollop of limestone adds structure."
"And here's an interesting combination... I had never tasted this combination of grapes before and was pleasantly surprised. The wine is medium bodied, has a light straw color, and is quite aromatic. It's very fruity with a crisp finish and was wonderful with grilled veal chops."
"...a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio that strikes a nice balance between the two grapes. Crispness from the Pinot Grigio and richness from the Chardonnay. It is great for patio sipping, but can also be matched with seafood, grilled chicken or pork and creamy pastas."
"Pale straw, almost transparent, in color, this new-style Tuscan blend of Chardonnay (70%) and Pinot Grigio (30%) has an inviting nose of green apple and bright citrus, with some hints of straw and fennel. Light to medium bodied, it has a nice mouthfeel and delivers dry mineral and apple flavors with a hint of fennel."
"A perennial favorite of ours. Seventy percent Chardonnay, thirty percent Pinot Grigio, but boy does the Pinot shine through this Italian wine. Grapefruit, mineral - generally crisp, swell for quaffing in hot weather." ***+
"...a pleasing wine that is balanced and flavorful."
"...an appealing blend of Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay, and while its bright, well-balanced fruit flavors make it perfect for casual sipping, this lyrical white wine has substance enough to accompany most fish or poultry dishes."
"...a blend of Chardonnay (70%) and Pinot Grigio - for those who can't make up their mind about which wine they want for dinner. It has fruity flavors that mix apples with tropical fruit and good acid to make it a summer match with simple foods."
"...dry and crisp, soft and round and delightfully imbued with touches of honeysuckle and acacia, almond and lemon and lime; a modest dollop of limestone adds structure." Pick of the Week
"...this pleasant white succeeds on many levels with green apple, peach and citrus flavors that make for a fresh, fruity white with a lot of merit. Though it's 70 percent Chardonnay and 30 percent Pinot Grigio, it mainly has Pinot Grigio flavor with an added richness and horsepower from the Chardonnay, all unoaked and ringing with acidity. Credit to the winemaker for having a vision and articulating it well." ***+
"Light, dry. Aromatic, floral - ripe nectarine and citrus; bright juicy flavors - nectarines and citrus, layered, excellent balance; long finish. Good value." ***
"A deliciously fresh and fragrant Italian white, great with white meats or fish or to keep in the fridge for unexpected guests."
"General Qualities: Medium-bodied, uncomplicated, dry, balanced acidity. Color: Pale straw. Aromas: Floral, fresh herbs, spicy. Flavors: Anise, apple, fresh herbs, mineral. Other Descriptors: Juicy, short finish, spicy." ***
"...quite ripe for a Tuscan white. There is plenty of green apple and grassy fruit, with must the right undercurrents of earth and spice. It's a fine medium-weight white to accompany similarly styled seafood dishes."
"...aromatic, fruity, well-balanced"
"...a blend of equal parts Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay. And a smart idea it is. The Chardonnay contributes body normally lacking in Pinot Grigio and the Pinot Grigio provides the acidity missing in Chardonnay. The result is a wine with good balance and a pleasant fruit aroma and flavor."
"The crystalline Le Rime 1999 combines Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay for an effect that feels like liquid limestone, lemon drops, almond blossom and dried thyme; crisp and zinging with acid, it's great warm-weather quaff." Pick of the Week
"Fair, fair star in color, this white wine opened wonderfully as it warmed. The fifty-fifty blend of Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay had achieved what it should--a balance of apple crispness and creamy vanillans."
"It's character and flavor can't be beat... Buy it by the case."
"Extremely perfumed, with flowers and passion fruit galore. Medium-bodied, with almond and peach pit flavor. Light and fruity finish. Drink now." 85
"...a crisp, pleasing blend...would win a shootout with many other, more expensive white wines." ****
"Lovely floral aroma with spicy muscat undertones; bright flavors of ripe peaches and vanilla, hints of ginger; balanced. ***
"Clean, light, tart apple and floral smells, with mineral notes. Light, but pleasantly fruity, with delicate apple, pear and citrus flavors; nice, fresh, almost spicy finish."
"Pale yellow color, has a lovely aroma of citrus and flowers, with an appley undertone. It is crisp, fresh, delicate and clean, with the palate resembling the nose and ending in a citrus finish..."
"...ample fruit and a gentle, soft outline, pointed up with a touch of acidity and crisp, green flavors at the finish." 85
"Green apple, citrus, grass and floral tones. Very aromatic. Good fruit, clean freshness, light body, low extract. Delicate aperitif-only style." 84
"Very pale gold with distinct green tinge. Attractive nose... Ripe and succulent. Light-bodied, very crisp on the palate..."
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