Schramsburg Brut Rosé, $32.99 (California)
The Schramsburg Rosé is made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes grown in the cooler Napa and Sonoma growing regions which include Carneros and Anderson Valley. Schramsburg is credited with being ‘America’s First House of Sparkling Wine’ and the family has perfected their sparkling winemaking techniques to create wines of rich complexity and flavor. This dry rosé yields aromas and flavors of bright red fruits, yeast and crisp acidity. The bubbles do not dissipate too quickly so you can savor them throughout the length of the finish.
Availability: Check your local Fine Wine Shop or go to http://www.schramsberg.com/index.html.

Veuve Cliquot Brut Rosé, $54.99 (France)
This Rosé is made from all three traditional sparkling wine grapes – Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. On the nose, aromas of red fruits such as strawberry, raspberry, and cherry which give way into bready notes. You will find the same fruits on the palate but with the addition of a yeasty flavor and incredible balance of fruit and complexity. This is truly and elegant sparkling Rosé, but you would expect nothing less from one of the most famous Champagne houses in the world.
Availability: Check your local Fine Wine Shop or BevMo!

 
Jansz Premium Sparkling Rosé, $21.99 (Australia)
This is one of my favorite sparklings from Australia as it is very affordable and always delivers on quality and flavor. This Rosé has an intense, bright pink hue with a very fine and persistent bead (the bubbles in the glass that float to the top; the finer and more persistent they are, the higher the quality). Fresh fruit aromas and flavors of cherry blossoms and strawberry are complimented by the wine’s fresh, natural acidity. As this is a great wine for any occasion (dinner party, celebration, gift, etc) and is such a fantastic price, I would recommend purchasing more than one.
Availability: Check your local Fine Wine Shop or go to http://www.jansztas.com.

Domaine Chandon Brut Rosé, $15.99 (California)
Domaine Chandon is known for producing excellent quality sparkling wines at all price points and if you are new to Sparkling Rosé, this is a great wine to try as it focuses on bring out the fruitiness of the grapes and won’t break the bank. This wine has intense aromas of strawberry and red cherry, with slight hints of crisp apple and stone fruit. The delicious fruity aromas also show through on the rich, creamy palate.

Availability: Check your local Fine Wine Shop or BevMo!

2006 Colome Torrontés, $13
This wine is intensely aromatic and floral with notes of roses, honeysuckle, jasmine, and a slight citrus twist. Stone and citrus fruit are revealed on the palate, which culminate in a crisp, clean finish. This wine is brought to the U.S. by Hess in Napa so it should be widely available.

  2003 Catena Alta Chardonnay, $45
Chardonnay is another important white wine grape in Argentina and the Catena Family produces an excellent age-worthy Chardonnay. This wine was made from grapes grown at the Catena Family’s Adriana Vineyard, which is located 5,000 feet in elevation, making it the highest vineyard in Argentina’s most celebrated growing region, Mendoza. The resulting wine has powerful aromatics with great acidity and concentrated flavors on the palate. Minerals and ripe stone fruit with notes of honey and vanilla from oak aging all meld together to create an elegant wine with the potential to age for another 5+ years.

 

2004 Achaval Ferrer Finca Altamira Malbec, $80
The ultimate Malbec – this wine shows just how complex and age-worthy an Argentinian Malbec can be! This opaque, purple-black Malbec is incredibly smooth with aromas and flavors of blackberry, blueberry, earth, leather, and hints of vanilla. Can drink now but I would hold onto it for a few more years as time in the bottle will further develop this already complex wine.

Originally from Bordeaux, France, it was found through DNA testing that Cabernet Sauvignon is the offspring of Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc.  Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the leading varietals blended in Bordeaux style wines along with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot.  Bordeaux reds have to be some of the most famous wines in the world, however, California (Napa), Chile, Italy (Tuscany), and Australia are all known to produce some quality Cabernet Sauvignon wines as well. 

There are a few different Cabernet styles to be aware of.  The first has to do with how warm or cool the climate of the winegrowing region is.  If the climate is warmer, such as Napa Valley in California, the wines tend to have more fruit flavors and aromas of cherry and blackberries along with milk chocolate and vanilla.  A cooler climate, such as Coonawarra in South Australia, will produce Cabernet wines with aromas and flavors of red pepper, asparagus, tomato leaf, spice, mocha, and tobacco. 

The second style has to do with old world versus new world characteristics for Cabernet Sauvignon.  New world wine producers are trying to make their Cabernet Sauvignon wines into a more approachable, fruit forward, and less complex wine to appeal to more consumers.  Therefore, the characteristics in a new world wine are more fruity with cherry, black currant, and raspberry flavors and aromas.  Old world producers typically age their Cabernet Sauvignon based wines for years, sometimes a decade before release.  The bottle age these wines pick up tend to decrease the amount of fruit in the wine and showcase a flavor profile of earth, herbs, cocoa, cedar, tobacco, and leather.

On a wine training this past week in Napa, I was able to taste some outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon wines, including some that won’t break the bank.  The following are a few that will pair well with a variety of food dishes and are great values from the North Coast.  They should also be easy to find at your local grocery store or wine shop.

2005 Sterling Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, $17.99

This medium bodied, well-balanced wine exhibits intense red fruit on the nose and has flavors of red cherry, raspberry and a hint of vanilla from oak aging.  The flavors finish strong and I believe this wine can stand up to a variety of food dishes from beef to hearty soups.  Perfect for the coming fall/winter months.

www.sterlingvineyards.com

2005 Louis M. Martini Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, $19.99

The skillful integration of the fruit and oak is what stands out the most with the Martini Napa Valley Cab.  Aromas and flavors of red cherry, strawberries, and red currant with vanilla and cedar from the oak aging and a firm tannin structure make this wine an easy favorite.  This wine also goes well with a variety of foods, but goes amazingly well with a nice filet mignon or braised short ribs.  Can you tell I’ve had it a few times before???

www.louismartini.com

2005 Simi Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, $18.99

Alexander Valley is actually located in Sonoma County, but this area produces some exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon wines due to the variety in soils and microclimates throughout the region.  The color on this wine is incredibly intense with deep red, purple hues.  The aromas are subtle; however, the flavors are very concentrated with red cherry, cassis, vanilla, and a slight nuttiness.  A good tannin structure and medium to long finish indicate that this is an Alexander Cab of good, sound quality.

www.simiwinery.com

2005 Frei Brothers Reserve Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, $21.99

Another great example of an Alexander Valley Cabernet!  And again, great color with dark purple and black hues and medium intensity aromas of black cherry and vanilla.  The flavors are much more concentrated than the aromas and showcase more ripe fruit such as plum, raspberry, and vanilla from the oak aging.  This wine has good body with a strong tannin structure and a lingering, darker fruit focused finish. 

www.freibrothers.com

*Please drink responsibly

Germany and Austria have long been regarded as producers of high quality white wines that can age an exceptionally long time due to their higher acidity levels.  These two countries are located in close proximity to each other and therefore are thought to have similar climates, wine styles, and wine classification systems, and thus are often talked about like they are one wine producing region.  However, there are many differences that set Germany and Austria apart as well.

Germany, the northernmost wine producing country in the world, is known for producing elegant Rieslings and high quality Eiswien (Ice wine), but is also producing some beautiful Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir).  Most of the vineyards in Germany are planted along the Rhine River as Spring tends to arrive late and Autumn comes early and large bodies of water have a moderating effect on  the climate.  Germany also has some of the steepest vineyard slopes in the world (up to 76°!), which can make growing and harvesting the grapes a difficult and very dangerous task.  Their wine quality has been up and down for the past few decades, but now German wine producers have really begun to focus on producing premium quality wines, which has made them very competitive in the global wine scene.

Austria has traditionally been regarded as an innovator in premium winemaking production and as a producer of high quality wines. However, their reputation was put on the line after the ‘Austrian wine scandal’ of 1985 when producers were adding diethylene glycol (anti-freeze) to their white wines to make them sweeter.  Fortunately, levels were so low that no one was harmed, but the reputation of the Austrian wine industry was ruined.  As a result, the Austrian government created strict, highly exemplary wine production laws to regain the quality standards Austria was previously known for.   Austria has come a long way since 1985, and aided with government support, they are making some of the finest white and red wines in the world.

The above is only a brief background of the wine countries of Germany and Austria, but if interested in learning more the numerous wine varieties produced in these countries and their classification systems among other things, check out the following Web sites:

Germany:  http://germanwineusa.org/destination_germany/regions.php

Austria:  http://www.winesfromaustria.com

The following are a few great examples of German and Austrian wines that can be easily purchased through K&L wine merchants (www.klwines.com) and Beverages and More! I found that another great place to search for wines is at www.wineaccess.com.

2005 Josef Leitz Rüdesheimer Berg Roseneck Spätlese, $33.99

This Riesling exhibits floral aromas with flavors of mineral, peach, apple, rose, and nut oil.  This wine is quite low in alcohol which is typical of many German wines as they are generally not fermented to dryness.  This is because Riesling usually has high acid levels and leaving a bit of residual sugar helps to balance the wine. This wine can be consumed now but will age for the next 8-26 years.

8% Alc.

2004 August Kesseler Assmanshausen Höllenberg Spätburgunder, $49.99

The dark fruit aromas in this Spätburgunder, or Pinot Noir, are complimented with flavors of black current, clove, spice, bitter almonds with a lingering, velvety finish.  This wine was produced from grapes grown in the famed Rheingau region of Germany.

14% Alc.

2006 Nigl Riesling Kremser Kremsleiten, $36.99

This full bodied Austrian Riesling has attractive aromas of peach, apricot, and citrus with flavors of vanilla, honey, and a slight minerality with a balanced, enduring finish.  Made from the very well known Austrian producer, Nigl, this is one of the best Rieslings I’ve ever tasted!

14.5% Alc.

2006 F.X. Pichler Smaragd Kellerberg Grüner Veltliner, $90

Another renowned Austrian producer, F.X. Pichler, makes exceptional Grüner Veltliner wines at varying complexities.  The Kellerberg, a famous vineyard in the Wachau region, produced this stunning Grüner Veltliner wine which has layers upon layers of tropical fruit aromas and flavors.  On the palate, numerous flavors show through such as mango guava, ripe peach, green apple, honey, apricots and a hint of flinty minerals.  The finish is rich and strong; this wine will stay fresh for at least another fifteen years.

11.8% Alc.

 **Please drink responsibly

A few weeks ago, I attended a French white wine tasting and though I still find French wine daunting for the most part, it gave me a chance to sit down and concentrate on the differences between the various French white wine producing regions.  I may not understand completely the history or the wine styles of the following producers in the reviews below, but I did learn that some amazingly high quality French white wines can be purchased for very decent prices.

The following wines were the standouts for me, mainly for their remarkable quality and exciting aromas and flavors.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!

 2006 Domaine Bourillon-Dorléans Coulée d’Argent Vouvray Sec, $17.99

This wine is made from 100% Chenin Blanc grapes from Vouvray in the Loire Valley and exhibits elegant aromas of butterscotch and tropical fruits with flavors of pear, grape candy, and butterscotch.  Overall, this medium to full bodied wine is very impressive considering the fairly inexpensive price.

13% Alc.

 2006 Jean Albrecht Riesling Reserve, $16.95

The Albrecht Family continues to have complete management over their winery, which was founded in 1425, and the current 18^th generation family members still maintain sustainable and organic farming practices.  This beautiful Riesling from the Alsace region has appealing aromas and flavors of peach and honey with slight botrytis* notes. Another great value wine – who knew quality French whites could be such a bargain!

13% Alc.

 2006 Domaine Zind-Humbrecht Gewurztraminer, $24.99

Another historic winery located in the Alsace region, Domaine Zind-Humbrecht was founded in 1620 and is currently run by 12^th generation family members.  Honey, floral and perfumey aromas are incredibly intense in this wine with sweet flavors of rose and honeysuckle.  There is a bit of bitterness on the palate and finish, however the intensity of aromas/flavors, complexity, and exceptionally long finish more than make up for it. 

14.5% Alc.

 2005 E. Guigal Condrieu, $49.99

Out of all the French whites in this tasting, this was definitely my favorite.  Made from Viognier wine grapes in the Northern Rhone area, this wine reveals beautifully concentrated aromas of almonds, butterscotch, and sweet, ripe stone fruit.  On the palate, the oily texture gives way to elegant flavors of vanilla, violets, sweet peaches, honey, and apricots.  There is so much going on with this rich wine, but it will remain delicate and fresh until the very last drop.

13.5% Alc.

Unfortunately for me, I have expensive taste!  Good thing there are some great values in the other wines listed above.

 *Botrytis is a fungal disease that can destroy an entire fruit crop; however with wine grapes, Botrytis is also known as ‘noble rot’ as it can help to enhance the flavors of some white grapes such as Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Riesling and Viognier to create world renown dessert wines.

**Please drink responsibly

2004 Mapema Malbec, Argentina, $20.99
This wine had remarkable dark red hues with aromas and flavors of rich fruit of blackberry, ripe plum, black cherry, tobacco, and dark chocolate. This wine pairs very well with any dark meat dishes. My dad and I enjoyed this Malbec with some traditional California tri-tip and we were pleasantly surprised at how well the meat and wine complimented each other.
13.5% Alc, www.vineconnections.com (Importer)

2001 Warwick Three Cape Ladies, South Africa, $20.99
This red blend is made up of Cabernet Sauvignon (41%), Merlot (29%), and Pinotage (30%) – a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault which originated in South Africa. This full bodied wine has fairly intense aromas of berries and coffee, but the standout character of this wine was the incredibly concentrated smoky, bacon fat, dark berry flavors. It was unlike any wine I have ever tasted and once I got used to the style, I really enjoyed a glass (or two!) of this wine.
14.5% Alc, www.warwickwine.co.za

2004 Howard Park Margaret River Shiraz, Western Australia, $21.99
The Margaret River wine region of Western Australia is growing incredibly fast, and whilst I was visiting the region the end of November ‘07, there were only a few standout wineries, Howard Park being among the best. As I was ready to head back to the U.S. the following week, I only purchased one bottle of wine at the Cellar Door, the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon. However, I really enjoyed the Shiraz as well and was so excited to find it in my new favorite little wine shop in Carmel. Because the Shiraz grapes that go into making this wine are grown in a cooler climate, the aromas and flavors are more subtle, lacking the fruit forward intensity of your typical Barossa Valley Shiraz. In this wine, you will find opulent aromas and flavors of red cherry, ripe plum, violet perfume, with slight vanilla from oak aging. This wine will age well for the next five years.
14.5% Alc, www.howardparkwines.com.au

Meritage wines are American wines ‘blended in the traditional noble Bordeaux varietals.”  These varietals include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petite Verdot, St. Macaire, Gros Verdot, and Carmenere for the reds and the white varietals include Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and Sauvignon Vert.

According to The Meritage Association Web site (www.meritagewine.org), a group of American vintners formed the association to recognize handcrafted wines blended from the aforementioned Bordeaux varietals.  The name “Meritage”, which rhymes with heritage, was chosen as it combines the words ‘merit’ and ‘heritage’ and the members felt this term accurately reflects what their wines stand for.

Red and white Meritage wines have to be made from a blend of at least two or more of the previously mentioned varietals and no single variety can make up more than 90 percent of the blend.  If a producer wants to include the name ‘Meritage’ on his or her wine label, then he or she must follow the red or white varietal blending rules as well as become a member of The Meritage Association.

The following are some exceptional examples of American Meritage wines that are definitely reminiscent of the traditional Bordeaux style.  As such, these wines taste great now but will benefit from a bit of aging as well.

2005 Justin Isosceles, Paso Robles, $62
Justin Isosceles doesn’t technically say ‘Meritage’ on the label, but the blend in this wine is 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 7% Merlot, a classic Meritage style wine.  This wine has garnered so much attention among the top wine critics as it never disappoints, and the 2005 Justin Isosceles is no different with beautiful deep purple hues and intense aromas of rich fruit.  This wine is bursting with red berries and dark cherry flavors with a hint of spice and vanilla.  The Isosceles may have a touch of VA* (volatile acidity), which I believe adds to its overall complexity.  This wine has incredible structure and a strong, persistent finish.
14.6% Alc, www.justinwine.com

2004 Franciscan Estates Magnificent, $50
One of the original Meritage wines from the late 80s, the Franciscan Magnificent is made up of 50% Merlot, 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 1% Cabernet Franc.  This moderately intense wine with grippy tannic structure exhibits ripe plum, dark cherry, raspberry, and cocoa aromas and flavors.  This wine has great balance and complexity.  You may need to decant this wine for ten to fifteen minutes before serving.
14.5% Alc, www.franciscan.com

2004 Rodney Strong Symmetry, Alexander Valley Red Meritage, $55
The Symmetry has opulent aromas of red lollies, blackberries, spice, chocolate, black cherry, and vanilla with flavors of raspberries, strawberries, cola and sweet vanilla.  This wine has pleasantly drying tannins with the balance and complexity that give way into a rich, full finish.  The varietals in this blend are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc; however, exact percentages could not be found.
14.6% Alc, www.rodneystrong.com

2004 Opus One, $170
The 2004 Opus One consists of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 1% Malbec.  This luxurious wine has incredibly smooth, silky tannins with aromas and flavors of raspberry, red cherry, cassis, spice, and sweet vanilla.  This full bodied, well-balanced and structured wine was made to age well, and at that price, you would definitely expect it to!
www.opusonewinery.com

As the above wines are a bit pricey, below are two more great examples of Meritage wines that have a much nicer price tag.
•    2004 Kendall-Jackson Meritage Red Wine, $30, www.kj.com
•    2005 Coppola American Meritage, $20

*All wine contains some VA or Volatile Acidity, which is formed by the oxidation of alcohol, mainly acetic acid and ethyl acetate.  In small amounts, VA can be beneficial to a wine as it adds complexity, but in larger amounts, or when a vinegary aroma is detected, it is considered a wine fault.

Pinot Noir has been around for a very long time, first being planted by the ancient Romans and then being made into wine around the first century AD.  These days consumers can find Pinot Noir wines from numerous countries throughout the world including France, Austria, Italy, Argentina, Australia, and New Zealand just to name a few. Some of the best Pinot Noirs can be found throughout regions in California as well such as the Russian River Valley in Sonoma, the Santa Lucia Highlands in Monterey County, and the famed Santa Rita Hills in Santa Barbara. 

Pinot Noir is not always my first choice of wine to drink as I definitely have an ‘American palate’ when it comes to red wines and enjoy the rich, dark, and intensely flavorful varietals that generally are made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah/Shiraz, and Grenache.  Pinot Noir is much different than these as it is generally a lighter to medium bodied wine with cherry, raspberry, earthy, floral, violet, and spice aromas and flavors.  I usually think I know what to expect with Pinot Noir and therefore it can be very dull.  However, every once in awhile, I will encounter a Pinot Noir with exceptional depth, and beautifully concentrated fruit flavors with silky, lingering tannins and my curiosity with this mischievous grape returns.

Unfortunately, as a general rule of thumb, you generally get what you pay for with Pinot Noir.  So it is definitely worth it to spend a few extra dollars when purchasing this wine to avoid disappointment. Because Pinot Noir doesn’t have the same structure as its darker red counterparts, a Pinot Noir will typically reach its peak in five to eight years past the vintage date.

The following are some great examples of Californian Pinot Noirs.

2006 MacMurray Ranch Central Coast Pinot Noir, $16.99

This wine is lighter red in color and had a modest nose of red cherries, vanilla, and lollies.  However, the palate is a bit more distinct with more complex flavors of cigar smoke, coffee, and red cherry.  I was most impressed with how well balanced this wine is and the lasting finish.  And at $16.99 a bottle, it is a great value as well.

www.macmurrayranch.com

2004 WildHorse Central Coast Pinot Noir, $19.99

This deep purple-red wine has aromas of red berries, leather, and barnyard with concentrated flavors of spice, vanilla, leather, and tar.  Nothing seems out of place and it finishes stronger than most. 

www.wildhorsewinery.com

2005 Cambria Julia’s Vineyard Pinot Noir, $20

This wine has the most interesting nose as there are a variety of aromas of sweet cherry, strawberry, and vanilla which lead into beautifully intense flavors of spice, vanilla, and red berries.  This very well balanced Pinot Noir exhibits a soft, lingering finish.

www.cambriawine.com

2006 Frei Brothers Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, $27.99

The aromas and flavors of this wine are wonderfully concentrated with leather, earth, and vanilla on the nose and cherry, dark berries, tar, and a hint of sweet vanilla on the palate.  This medium bodied, exceptionally well balanced wine’s plush, silky tannins lead you into a blissfully lengthy finish.  You will have to pay a bit more for this one, but it won’t let you down.

www.freibrothers.com

*Terroir – The environment with which a grape variety is grown;  a combination of the climate, soil, and topography to name a few factors that affect the quality and characteristics of grapes grown in a particular vineyard site.

From once having worked in a region in California known for bold, intense Zinfandel, Paso Robles, and becoming very familiar with the grape and the wines it makes, I was astounded that for the most part, other regions around the world have little do with the production or consumption of Zinfandel.  A couple exceptions include Italy, where a Zinfandel clone called Primitivo is commonly grown and consumed, and Croatia, where this grape is known as Crljenak. 

After having spent some time studying wine in Australia, I didn’t realize how much I missed this traditional California varietal until just recently, when I tasted a flight of Zinfandel wines.  In California, Zinfandel can be a very strong, full bodied wine with ripe fruit and a variety of spicy flavors.  Perhaps the most popular style of Zinfandel in the U.S. is a style known as “white zinfandel” which, as we all probably know, is a pink, slightly sweeter wine enjoyed by the masses.  However, in other regions, such as Margaret River, Western Australia, I interestingly found that the cooler growing climate has a positive affect on the Zinfandel grape.  These wines have medium body and typically retain more spice than fruit with pepper, clove, and anise and a hint of dark berry flavors.

Zinfandel is a very important grape variety to the U.S. and is often considered America’s heritage grape.  Zinfandel vine cuttings were first brought to the U.S in the early 1800s and were planted in the northeastern regions of the country. Once vine cuttings were planted in California in the mid 1850s, it was found that Zinfandel can grow incredibly well in the various California climes.

Zinfandel became hugely popular during the California Gold Rush as it could be made into a pretty decent drop, and even though this grape has had some competition from other varietal wines over the past few decades, it is still a significant part of the California wine growing and making history.  It has actually become so important in fact that entire wine festivals are dedicated to this grape.  Such festivals include the annual Zinfandel Festival in Paso Robles organized by the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance (www.pasowine.com), the Lodi Zinfandel Festival (www.zinfest.com), and the annual ZAP (Zinfandel Advocates and Producers) tasting in San Francisco (www.zinfandel.org).

For more information about the history and significance of this wine grape, please go to www.zinfandel.org.

Just recently I tried numerous Zinfandel wines and I personally rated the following wines the highest for their concentrated fruit and delicate oak aromas and flavors.  Additionally, I was impressed that the heat from the higher alcohol content in these wines did not interfere with the wines’ aromas and flavors. 

I hope you enjoy the following wines as much as I did!

2006 Seghesio Sonoma County Zinfandel, $20

This rich purple colored wine is full of life with intense aromas of black berries, raspberries, black cherries, spice and interestingly, a hint of coconut.  Beautifully balanced and intense flavors of red fruits, cherry, raspberry, spice and vanilla come through on the palate.  This medium bodied wine has an incredibly fruity finish; the tannins, acidity, and fruit in this wine, hint that it will age well for the next five to ten years.

Alc. 15.4%, www.seghesio.com

2006 Seven Deadly Zins, Lodi, $17.00

A typical Lodi Zinfandel, this medium bodied wine has a remarkable combination of ripe cherries, raspberries, and subtle vanilla aromas with smoky plum and cherry flavors and a lingering fruit finish.  This wine is definitely ready to drink now but should stay fresh for the next 3-5 years.

Alc. 14.5%, www.lodivineyards.com

2005 Sin Zin, Alexander Valley, $20.00

This inky red-purple Zin exhibits aromas of black berry, black raspberry, clove and peppery notes with fairly intense dark cherry, vanilla, spice and black fruit flavors in the mouth.  This medium bodied wine is very well balanced and finishes surprisingly strong.  Drink now or for the next 3-5 years. 

Alc. 14.5%, www.avvwine.com

*Please drink responsibly

Chardonnay, an indigenous grape to Burgundy in France, can be broadly categorized into two different wine styles – Old world (France, Italy, Spain, Germany, etc.) and New World (California, Australia, Chile, Argentina, etc.). The old world style tends to showcase more subtle aromas with minerally and citrus fruit flavors such as lemon, grapefruit, butter, nuts, with higher acid and a touch of oak. New world wine styles have more prominent aromas and flavors of tropical fruit, apple, butterscotch, vanilla with low acid and a lot of oak. However, don’t just assume that if you are tasting characteristics from an Old World style wine that it is just that, and vice versa. Recently, Old World wine countries are producing more and more wines in the New World style to appeal to a broader range of wine consumers. Interestingly, some New World wine producers, such as California, are also changing their wine styles and are using Old World techniques to create their elegant Chardonnay wines.

So it can be a bit tricky, but no one is expecting you to be a wine expert right? All that is expected of you is to pick out a great tasting wine for your friends and family, and with the help of my wine reviews, I hope that will be the easy part.

The following wines were chosen because they are all characteristic of the distinctive California Chardonnay style. Although these top choices all have been aged in oak barrels, they are very well balanced and exhibit beautifully concentrated fruit flavors. And if you are trying to build up your wine cellar, the structure of the following wines hints that they will age for the next 2-5 years.

2005 Sterling Vineyards Napa Valley Chardonnay, $17.00
This wine is very well balanced and smells of citrus and concord grapes with vanilla, apple, and stone fruit flavors. This full bodied wine, influenced by oak aging, has a beautiful, lingering finish.
www.sterlingvineyards.com

2006 Frei Brothers Russian River Valley Chardonnay, $17.99
A party in your glass! This wine shows aromas of tropical fruit and apricot and honey, butter, vanilla, green apple, citrus fruit, and pear flavors. The acidity and oak lend to this medium to full bodied wine with incredible balance. The flavors stick around in your mouth long after the last drop has been swallowed.
www.freibrothers.com

2004 Simi Russian River Valley Chardonnay, $24.99
Butterscotch, honey and vanilla aromas fill your glass with peach, vanilla, and apricot flavors of medium intensity. The oak adds to the complexity of this well-balanced wine and finishes strong.
www.simiwinery.com

2006 La Crema Sonoma Coast Chardonnay, $15.99
Yummy, intense aromas of buttery popcorn with stone fruit fill your nose and you will discover pear, apple, stone fruit, and vanilla flavors in your mouth. This wine has good body and a pleasantly long finish. A great California Chardonnay all around.
www.lacrema.com

*Please Drink Responsibly