Gundlach Bundschu , Polar Bearitage, non-vintage Review

Polar Bearitage is a white wine blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Semillon grapes. The wine is cellared and bottled for the Gundlach Bundschu (Gun Bun) Winery by the Oso Bueno Wine Company of Santa Maria, CA. I generally like Gun Bun wines, despite a previous poor review, and wanted to balance the scales a bit.

Why the Name?
Wine X Magazine interviewed Gun Bun winemaker, Linda Trotta, asking where the Bearitage name comes from:

"Wine X: Tell us about Bearitage. Where did that come from?

Trotta: Bearitage is the only wine I've ever heard of where the label was designed before the name and wine were even conceived. So they had this image, and then they had to come up with a name and a wine!

Wine X: But why the name Bearitage?

Trotta: The name is a spoof on the Meritage Association, you know, an American wine blended in the Bordeaux tradition. Since we use zin in the blend, Gun Bun decided to blend something uniquely Californian (i.e., the state flag which features a bear) and the name Meritage. Thus, Bearitage. In fact, the popularity of the Bearitage has inspired a white version called Polar Bearitage..."

A Fun Blend
The wine is a light yellow color in the glass. A sniff and swirl yielded Sauvignon Blanc fruit, some apples and a bit of spice. If you told me "This is Sauvignon Blanc", I wouldn't have argued. The taste, however, is a different story. The blend of the Sauvignon Blanc and the Chardonnay grapes is clear up front in the taste. In mid-mouth the Semillon gave the wine a good mouthfeel and the finish is clean and quick. I found no oak taste anywhere.

Cost and Availability
I purchased a 750 ml bottle at a local wine shop for $10.00. This non-vintage wine is in semi-wide release and might be more difficult to find.

Recommendations
Polar Bearitage is a very enjoyable wine. It was a terrific accompanyment to my roast chicken and wild rice and I wouldn't hesitate to pair it with a nice whitefish. If you've been entrusted to bring the wine for dinner, you could feel very comfortable with this choice (and the cute bear print on top of the seal can't hurt <wink>) .

The Bottom Line
I gave 3 stars only because 1/2 stars aren't available.  This is a better than average wine and another for my favorites list.
Salud!