A standout in the ABC flight at the pre-warehouse sale tasting/screening a few days ago, Sarah and Sparky Marquis' Verdelho is not for the timid. Clocking in at 15.5% alcohol (probably more like 16%), it's a lavish, almost oily, confection (though not sweet-tasting in any way) that evokes the richness and intensity, if not exactly the same range of flavors, of a white Hermitage. The tasting panel was inclined to disqualify this wine based on its almost white port level of alcohol, but no one thought it tasted hot and it was far and away one of the most interesting white wines at the table. Writing for the Wine Advocate, Lisa Perrotti-Brown gives the Violinist 90 points. She writes: "A blend of 1/3 Adelaide Hills fruit and 2/3 McLaren Vale, the 2010 The Violinist Verdelho gives intense aromas of lemon juice, white pepper, coriander seed and a touch of grapefruit peel. Crisp, rich and very full in the mouth (15.5% declared alcohol), this Verdelho provides a great intensity of spiced citrus flavors with some poached pears and apple slices coming through in the long finish. Molly Dooker * 2010 The Violinist Delicious now, it should remain fresh and vibrant to 2013." It's not surprising that the only white wine Sarah and Sparky Marquis make has what you might call a red wine personality. Maybe you'd pass up a wine like this at its recommended release price of $25 a bottle, but for $14.97 it's a gimme if you like big, chewy wines, and, yes, this wine is almost chewy there's so much stuffing. Say what you will about Sarah and Sparky Marquis, this wine offers a ton of personality at this price.