Varietal:  100% Chardonnay
Region:  Sonoma County – California – USA
Cost:  $20 (SRP)

Winemaker’s Notes:  Straw, yellow-green in color with aromas of crisp coconut, pear, and citrus. Richly expressive with great mouth-feel, good acidity, and a touch of butter. Pairs well with Lobster ala creme, seafood lasagna, braised chicken, gnocchi with brown butter, Fontina cheese.

My Review:  It was a helluva weekend around my house, and while I won’t go into details, suffice it to say that Saturday called for some wine. So when my wife and I decided that our dinner would be a mix of some cheese, crackers, and somosas, a crisp white wine sounded like a great idea. Fortunately we happened to have one chilled in the fridge.

The wine was very light in the glass, with hints of green running through it, and on the nose it was crisp with notes of citrus and pear. In the mouth I got apple mostly, with nice crisp acid all the way through, which did a nice job of cutting through the slight heat on the samosas and of course went just fine with some sharp cheddar and crackers. Despite the “Reserve” label, this wine is in fact un-oaked.

I’d be lying if I said this was some revolutionary wine, but around this time of year I suspect most people are more in the market for a serviceable white and red that they can serve at holiday parties, and this certainly fits that bill. It certainly won’t make anybody stand up and take notice, but it also probably won’t make them turn up their nose and search for a glass of something else.

Related posts:

1. Biltmore Reserve Chardonnay 2010
2. Biltmore Chardonnay Sur Lies NV American
3. Biltmore Reserve Viognier 2010

White Hall Vineyards

We started out our tasting at White Hall, partly because of the area we were looking to go tasting in, they were the first one open, but also because I we hadn’t actually been out to the tasting room in many years. On the Saturday morning we stopped in they were pouring 9 different wines and my wife and I were happy to sample them all.

We started out with two Chardonnays, the 2008 Chardonnay ($15) and the 2008 Chardonnay Reserve ($24). The stainless steel Chardonnay featured all the usual citrus and pear notes I would have expected, but had a smoother finish than I anticipated, though certainly not “oaky”. The 2008 Reserve featured a bit of oaky nuttiness on the nose and while it had the “oaked” finish I would expect, it was subtle and even my wife, who doesn’t usually care for oaked Chardonnay, preferred it to the stainless steel.

Next up was the 2009 Viognier ($17) which offered a good floral nose with rose and honeysuckle in the mouth with just a hint of sweetness on the finish. This is a great summer wine and my wife and I did actually bring a bottle of it home with us. Following the Viognier was the 2008 Pinot Gris ($17) which didn’t have much nose to it but was a nice dry wine with a good minerality on the finish. Our final white was the 2008 Petit Manseng ($16) which like the Viognier had a floral nose with tropical notes in the mouth. The best way to describe this wine is as a less floral and more sweet Viognier. A good dessert wine though.

Moving on to the reds. We started with the 2008 Merlot ($15) which had a smoky nose but was lighter in the palate with raspberry flavors. I really enjoyed this one and we made sure to grab a bottle to bring home. Following that was the 2009 Touriga ($18) with a jammy nose and soft tannins. The 2008 Petit Verdot ($20) was a stand-out for me. It was a dark reddish-purple in the glass with smoke and pepper on the nose that carried through to the palate to mix with raspberry and a nice soft tannic finish. This was arguably my favorite wine of the tasting and we made sure to grab a bottle to bring home.

We finished up the tasting with the 2007 Soliterre ($17), a dessert wine with floral and apricot notes on the nose and candied fruit on the palate. With 6% residual sugar you had better make sure to pair it with something, but I will say that had I not known how much residual sugar was in the wine I might have guessed less as it certainly wasn’t syrupy.

Our tasting complete and some wines purchased we moved on to our next stop.

Mountfair Vineyards

I’d be lying if I didn’t mention that Mountfair was a big reason we headed out to do some wine tasting. Everybody in Virginia that’s been there has nothing but good things to say about it, and what’s not to love about a vineyard that specializes in small-batch red wines?

We started off our tasting with a few sparkling wines from Thibaut-Janisson, the Blanc de Chardonnay and the Virginia FIZZ. Mountfair sells these wines for them as they don’t have their own tasting room. They were both enjoyable, one a champagne style and the other a prosecco style.

As for the actual Mountfair wines, we started off with the 2009 Merlot ($20) which is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. With a peppery nose I expected more of it in the palate, but the Merlot does a good job of smoothing it out and makes this a great wine for just sipping on. We grabbed a bottle of this as well, bringing our Merlot total up to 2 in as many vineyards. Next was the other of their single varietals, the 2009 Cabernet Franc ($20) which is the opposite of the Merlot at 80% Cabernet Franc and 20% Merlot. The wine was heavier in the mouth than I expected with a subtle pepper and smoke finish with good cherry notes leading the way in. We didn’t buy this one, but mostly because it lost the coin toss against the Merlot.

Next was the 2008 Indigenous ($25) a blend of 50/50 Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc with a velvety pepper nose and a tart finish that I attributed to the Cabernet Franc. Finally we sampled the 2009 Engagement ($25) a blend of 60% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 10% Petit Verdot, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a great wine for grilled food with a lot of the Cabernet Franc notes coming through, but with more body thanks to the Petite Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot.

I really enjoyed Mountfair and before we left my wife and I even signed up for their wine club so that we’ll get shipments of their wine as their released. If you visit Mountfair or have at least tasted their wines I certainly recommend it as it’s a great value and a good way to get their signature wine, the Wooloomooloo, which pretty much sells out as soon as it’s released.

Pollak Vineyards

My wife and I had visited Pollak a few years back just after they opened their new tasting room (which is beautiful and has a patio and deck area perfect for a picnic lunch), but wanted to head back now that the new vintages were out, especially since I enjoyed what of them I was able to taste back in February at the Virginia Wine Expo. We started out with the 2009 Chardonnay ($19) which had a creamy nose with citrus and vanilla notes on the palate and a soft, light oak hint on the finish.

Next was the 2010 Viognier ($20) with a nose of honey and peach and floral notes on the palate. This was a light wine that will be good on a hot day. Next was the 2010 Pinot Gris ($18) which was so light in the glass as to be nearly clear. This was a medium dry wine and the only thing I can really say about it is that it was so-so, and nothing to get too excited about. Next was the 2009 Durant White ($16) a blend of 60% Chardonnay, 30% Viognier, and 10% Pinot Gris. With a subtle floral nose and good tropical flavors this was easily my favorite white of the tasting and the only reason I didn’t grab a bottle to bring home is that I already have one.

Moving on to the reds we started with the 2009 Durant Red ($12) which is a 50/50 blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Light red in the glass with pepper and a “meaty”, smoky aroma and a tart finish this is a good value wine, especially for those big cookouts that come up this time of year. Our next wine was the 2008 Cabernet Franc ($20) with a nose of pepper and generic red fruit with cherry on the palate.

Next was the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon ($24) with a nose full of dark fruit and a juicy palate with soft tannins on the finish. This wine is just begging for a grilled steak and I bought a bottle to take home for just that reason. Our final sample was the 2008 Meritage ($25) a blend of 44% Cabernet Franc, 43% Merlot, and 13% Petit Verdot that has a lot of dark fruit on both the nose and the palate with a nice smooth finish. It’s very “petit verdot-y” (according to my notes) and another great steak wine that we only didn’t buy because we decided to go with the Cab Sauv.

After staying at Pollak for a bit to eat some lunch on their deck area, it was on to our final stop.

Veritas Vineyards & Winery

Behind the Veritas tasting bar

I always have a soft spot in my heart for Veritas as my wife’s brother got married there and we had, quite frankly, one helluva time. Veritas lets you select either a white tasting or a red tasting, but since my wife and I were both there, we picked one of each and shared, starting off with the whites.

First was the Scintilla ($30) a French style brut sparkling wine with apple on the nose, big bubbles and a nice dry finish. Next was the 2010 “Saddleback” Chardonnay ($18) which is done in the Chablis style and has lots of tropical notes as well as some vanilla and apple. Following up that was the 2009 “Harlequin” Chardonnay ($25) which has spent 6 months in French oak. With a buttery/oak nose I was almost surprised at how much acid I found on the palate, though it certainly wasn’t a lot. That being said both my wife and I liked the “Harlequin” much better than the “Saddleback”.

Next we tasted the 2010 Viognier ($20). Floral and honeysuckle notes on the nose with peach on the palate and a slight hint of sweetness on the finish (.7% residual sugar) made this a very typical, but very enjoyable, Virginia Viognier. The 2009 Petit Manseng ($25) had kiwi on the nose and even with 10% residual sugar was sweet without being syrupy. The 2009 Kenmar ($35) is an ice wine style made from Traminette and offering rose aromas on the nose with honey and rose water on the palate. This is a very sweet wine, but a good dessert wine if paired correctly with something like pound cake.

Moving on to the reds, we sampled the Mousseux ($30) a sparkling wine using Merlot grapes with notes of strawberry and a tartness that I actually found rather refreshing. The 2010 Rose’ ($14) is made with 46% Cabernet Franc and 54% Merlot and features .5% residual sugar. A medium-light pink in color with a strawberry nose and a dry, slight pepper/spice note on the finish that makes this a good summer wine for pairing with something like grilled chicken.

The Red Star ($18) is a blend of 37% Cabernet Franc, 37% Merlot, and 26% Chambourcin. A nose of dark fruit and pepper and a palate of smoke and cherry make this a good wine to pair with burgers. The 2009 Claret ($18) is a blend of 55% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, and 15% Petit Verdot. The petit verdot really came through on this wine, with a nice juiciness to the wine and aromas of smoke and pepper that will make this another great wine for drinking with some gourmet burgers off the grill – which is why my wife and I grabbed a bottle.

Finally, the 2009 Vintner’s Reserve ($25) a blend of 40% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc, and 20% Petit Verdot that spent 18 months in mostly new French oak barrels. A smoky aroma with tons of dark fruit notes on the palate a nice soft tannic finish makes this a great wine to pair with a steak.

My wife and I had a great time tasting all these wines, and everybody that we dealt with at the vineyards was incredibly pleasant, knowledgeable, and friendly. If you have the chance to visit any of these vineyards I highly recommend it, and I’m already looking forward to another trip out to Virginia Wine Country to visit some other vineyards and taste some more wines.

Related posts:

1. Virginia Wine Country Day 2
2. Virginia Wine Country Day 1
3. California Wine Country Day 1 – Napa Valley

Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Region: California – USA
Cost: $10 (SRP)

Winemaker’s Notes: Picked at night or early in the morning, these grapes underwent fermentation in stainless steel tanks and were freed from the common secondary malolactic fermentation which is a frequent sentence for Californian Chardonnay. The result is a fresh and bright unoaked Chardonnay that is more reminiscent of an aromatic white that its namesake. Flavors of pear and green apple will pair well with braised scallops, pork tenderloin, roasted chicken, or fresh pasta with olive oil and basil.

My Review: When I was offered a sample of the 2009 Big House Unchained Naked Chardonnay I didn’t even hesitate to say yes. I’ve had several Big House wines in the past and have mostly enjoyed them, and given my wife’s preference for stainless steel Chardonnay, I take every opportunity I can to try one she might enjoy – I’m thoughtful that way.

Before talking about the wine, I want to continue to congratulate Big House Wines on having a sense of humor. There are plenty of bottles of stainless steel Chardonnay out there, but I think it’s fair to say that if you were walking down the aisle at your local store, the 2009 Unchained Naked Chardonnay would jump out at you. Even the tasting notes they provide play into the whole idea of California Chardonnay being sentenced to oak barrels and that they’re commuting this sentence. Good wine is great, but good wine with a sense of humor is even better. Alright, now on to the wine.

In the glass the wine was a light yellow color, and on the nose I got a general feeling of citrus – no particular citrus, just a general feeling of it. In the mouth I got notes of pear and pineapple, with a subtle hint of sweetness that certainly lives up to their claims of an “aromatic white” than your typical Chardonnay. Still, the finish was crisp and clean and there’s no denying that this is a stainless steel Chardonnay as there was no hint of the buttery, oak finish that some people (such as my wife) just don’t enjoy.

Paired with a dinner of pasta tossed with shrimp cooked in white wine (not the Big House), with a cream sauce made of feta and butter with some scallions and chives, it was a nice crisp note to the tanginess of the meal and easy to sip on even after dinner was over and my wife and I had moved downstairs to watch some evening television (How I Met Your Mother goes great with any wine really).

If you’re not a fan of oaked Chardonnay, Big House has certainly done a good job of giving you an affordable option that is still interesting and, if nothing else, presents an interesting bottle to present at parties to amuse your friends. I appreciate that Big House held out as long as they could on creating a straight Chardonnay, but I also appreciate that when they finally broke down and did it, they made sure to do it their way.

Related posts:

1. Cupcake Vineyards Chardonnay 2009
2. Concannon Conservancy Chardonnay 2009
3. Four Vines “Naked” Chardonnay

Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Region: California – USA
Cost: $20 (SRP)

Golden in color with aromas of pears, Gala apples, stone fruits, and pineapple.  Hints of nutmeg, cinnamon, panna cotta, and hazelnuts that all carry through to the palate.  Pairs well with chicken, seafood, and pork dishes as well as some softer cheeses.

Recommendations: I’ll admit that with the colder weather I’ve been on somewhat of a red wine kick, not the least of which has to do with my food selections.  However, when the bottle of 2008 Robert Mondavi Chardonnay showed up at my office the other day, I will admit that I was happy for it as A) I don’t have a lot of white in the house at the moment, and B) I was kinda in the mood for a nice Chardonnay.

If you’ve followed this blog for any amount of time you know that I have a bit of trouble picking out Chardonnays because my wife doesn’t like oaked Chardonnay.  While the Robert Mondavi has spent some time in French oak to age, it was fermented in stainless steel, and so I was hoping that the distinctive finish wouldn’t be too bad for her.  It wasn’t.

The wine was clear and gold in the glass, and the aromas of apple and pineapple jumped right up into my nose with just a hint of nutmeg on the end of it.  In the mouth the wine was light and crisp, with apple, pear, and pineapple flavors carrying through, and then a nice, subtly creamy finish from the time in French oak with some nutmeg and hazelnuts on the finish.

Paired with a dinner of mustard and herb chicken, salad, and creamy garlic pasta side, it was a great compliment to everything on the table, and was enjoyable by itself, a feature that can be hit or miss for me with Chardonnay that’s spent some time in oak.  If you’re like my wife and don’t like oaked Chardonnay, I would still recommend giving the 2008 Robert Mondavi Chardonnay a try as it’s subtle and might help usher you in to enjoying them.

Also, if you can’t find the wine at your local store (which honestly shouldn’t be a problem), you can always click on this link and have it shipped right to your home or office.

Related posts:

1. Simi Chardonnay 2008
2. Cupcake Vineyards Chardonnay 2009
3. Concannon Conservancy Chardonnay 2008

Varietal: Chardonnay
Region: Virginia – USA
Cost: $16

Light gold in the glass with aromas of citrus, lemon, lime, green apple, quince, and white peach.  A hint of melon on the palate and just a touch of minerality lead into a slightly floral finish.  Pairs well with grilled or roasted chicken.

Recommendations: Back in March when my wife and I spent a few days in Virginia Wine Country near Charlottesville, one of the places we stopped on our second day of tastings was Veritas Vineyards.  We had been there before as her brother was actually married there a few years earlier, but we hadn’t tasted their wines in some time (having missed them at the 2010 Virginia Wine Expo the month before), and wanted to stop in for a visit.

While several of their wines were enjoyable, our hands down favorite of the whites was the Estate Bottled Chardonnay.  Produced solely in steel tanks, it’s crisp with a nice acidity and flavors of melon.  What I like most about it is that there’s just a bit of Viognier added to help balance out the finish and add that floral note on the finish that’s indicative of the Viognier grape.

When paired with a dinner of oven-cooked chicken topped with a cajun seasoning, the crispness of the wine did a great job of cutting the slight heat of the food, creating a nice pairing.  What I like most about this wine is that it pairs the food versatility of Chardonnay with the ease of drinking a Viognier.

If you’re looking for a white that will go well with just about any meal or out on the deck, the Veritas Estate Bottled Chardonnay is a good one to go for.  The mix of Chardonnay and Viognier is a winner and one I hope they continue to produce.

Related posts:

1. White Hall Viognier 2008
2. Gray Ghost Vineyards 2008 Chardonnay
3. Ingleside Vineyards Blue Crab Blanc

Our second day of tasting began when we arrived King Family Vineyards.  A beautiful estate that is almost hidden (GPS makes it easy to find) off several small roads, we spent some time tasting their wines – the Roseland 2008, a blend of Chardonnay and Viognier offers the best of both wines, and their Crose 2009, a Provence style dry Rose’ made from Merlot grapes, were both especially enjoyable – and looking around the small shop within their tasting room.  While this was April and my first stop, this would have been an ideal spot to stop for lunch, as King Family Vineyards has several items available for purchase that, when paired with wine, would make an excellent picnic lunch.

Our second stop on the day was Pollak Vineyards, with their new tasting room with a patio perfect for relaxing with a bottle of wine.  A dry Rose’ stood out amongst the lighter wines, but their 2008 Durant Red, a 50/50 blend of their Merlot and Cabernet Franc, made me regret not getting to taste their Merlot (they were sold out) as the flavors I got that weren’t Cab Franc were quite enjoyable, with a bright flavor that still showed a bit of earthiness at the same time.

After relaxing for a bit, you have to pace yourself when wine tasting after all, April and I got back into the car and headed on to our next stop, Veritas Vineyards.  Now, this was not my first trip to Veritas, as April’s brother (that’s my brother-in-law for those following along) had been married there coming up on 3 years ago.

However, on my last trip we weren’t wine tasting, and so I hadn’t had the opportunity to sample all of their wines.  Veritas offers both a red and a white tasting, and being the good couple that April and I are, we decided to get both and share them.  Ain’t love grand?

From the white tasting several wines stand out.  The first thing we sampled was their Scintilla, a sparkling brut that was excellent, with a mineral flavor that was both dry and crisp and quite refreshing.  Next up was their Sauvignon Blanc, a varietal that you don’t see much of in Virginia.  Light and refreshing I liked it, but found myself craving the bolder flavors of South American Sauvignon Blanc.  That said, this was still an excellent wine and one worth buying.

The other white to truly stand out was the 2008 “Estate Bottled” Chardonnay.  The addition of some Viognier to this wine adds a floral nose and flavor that both April and I found very nice.  We actually purchased a bottle of this to go home after having a bottle opened to enjoy with our lunch on the stunning grounds of Veritas.

From the reds, the 2008 Merlot was dry and earthy with flavors of black cherry and it was at this point that I think April officially became a fan of Virginia Merlot.  The bottle that came home with us, however, was their 2008 Claret with it’s pepper nose (thanks to the 35% Cab Franc) and smooth finish (thanks to the 5% Petit Verdot).  It’s a great wine for pasta, hamburgers, or just because.

Our final stop of the day was in part thanks to the suggestion of our pourer at King Family Vineyards.  When asking about our day we told her what we had on our list and she suggested Afton Mountain Vineyards over our other choice (which I will not name) because of the wine selection and what she perceived to be our palates.  It also helps that Afton Mountain is just down the road from Veritas, while the other place is not.

At Afton Mountains they also offer two different tastings (a House and a Reserve), and as at Veritas, April and I decided to get both and share.  From the House Tasting, the Gewurztraminer was so impressive, with its dry, mineral flavors, that we actually bought a bottle of it to take home.  The Cabernet Sauvignon from this tasting was also very nice with a good earthy flavor.

From the Reserve Tasting the Tete de Cuvee brut we started with had a nice mineral (which seemed to be a theme for the weekend) and their Festa di Bacco is nothing if not a great pasta wine.

Like all good things, this weekend came to an end.  While this will not be my last trip to Virginia Wine Country, or several of these vineyards to be honest, I do hope that anybody that is in Virginia and reading this (and my previous post) that hasn’t gone out and spent some time in Virginia Wine Country will do so.

Thanks to all of the vineyards across both days for being your hospitality and your wine.

Related posts:

1. Virginia Wine Country Day 1
2. California Wine Country Day 2 – Sonoma
3. California Wine Country Day 1 – Napa Valley

Our first stop was at Viansa Winery & Marketplace.  The tasting room and grounds at Viansa are nothing short of spectacular, and I recommend stopping in there just for the view.  We tried several of their wines, including their Senza Chardonnay, an unoaked Chardonnay that was light and crisp, the Reserve Chardonnay, featuring lots of butter on the nose, and a Pinot Noir that was velvety right up to the end where it showed a bit of bite.

We also tried a Zinfandel with that was jammy, with lots of cherry flavors but very little pepper and spice on the finish, much different than the Prindelo, which was very full-bodied and not at all jammy.  The Sangiovese offered a spicy nose with fruit and tannins on the palate.

We finished up at Viansa with two Cabernet Francs.  The 2004 Cab Franc was dark with with a fruity, jammy nose, and was the closest to a Virginia Cab Franc I had experienced on my trip.  The 2005 Samuele Cabernet Franc was more robust, with a peppery nose and a dry, tannic finish.

Our next stop, right down the road, was Jacuzzi Family Vineyards.  If you’re a fan of olive oil, I would recommend a stop to Jacuzzi for that alone.  They have a great selection of flavored and unflavored olive oils that are worth the drive.  But let’s be honest – that’s not the only reason I went there.

My wife and I started off with a taste of Carneros, which had a fruity nose, but was light and refreshingly crisp with flavors of citrus, peach, and cinnamon.  From there we jumped into the reds with Pinot Noir, which was dry moreso than fruity, and featured a bit of spearmint on the palate.  Next up was a Sangiovese that was very light on the palate and smooth.  We took a bottle of this wine home.

Next was a Nero d’Avola, which is a Sicilian varietal, that offered strawberry on the nose and palate.  The last two that we tried were a Barbera that had a smoky finish and is a great steak wine if there ever was one, and a Primitivo which had a very dry nose, but was very jammy and fruit forward on the palate.

Next we stopped at Sebastiani for some tasting and lunch.  Before settling down for lunch, we tried several samples, including a Carneros that showed white peach and green apple with a hint of white pepper.  Very refreshing, my wife and I bought a bottle of this to enjoy with our lunch.

Before we made it to said lunch, we also tried a very mellow Chardonnay and a White Pinot Noir that was effervescent, as well as a Pinot Noir with a great deal of spice on the nose, though not so much on the palate.  The Barbera offered anise, black cherry, and licorice and is perfect for pizza.

Finally we tried the Zinfandel, which I found to be very smooth and would be great with BBQ, and the Cabernet Sauvignon which was soft and earthy.

Our lunch finished, we traveled to Ravenswood.  To be perfectly honest, the only thing to say about Ravenswood is this:  Zinfandel.  If you’re a fan of Zinfandel than this is a stop worth making, if you’re not you’ll probably want to pass.

From there we traveled to Ledson Winery, located at a converted mansion that was absolutely beautiful.  First up was a Sauvignon Blanc with melon on the nose and a white peach, semi-sweet flavor.  This was followed by a Carneros Chardonnay, the Tres Frais, with a green apple nose and banana finish.  Very light, very balanced acidity.

From there we moved into the reds with a Sonoma County “Old Vine” Zinfandel with raspberry on the nose and leather, spice, and raisin on the palate.  This was followed by a Merlot with cherry and smoke, a Malbec with a black cherry nose and leather notes on the palate, and finally a Petite Sirah that was nothing so much as dusty and rough.

Our final stop of the day was Chateau St. Jean.  Another beautiful estate, it was only enhanced by great wine.  First up was a Pinot Blanc that was surprisingly robust for a white wine.  Next was a Chardonnay that was amazingly light for having spent 15 months in French Oak.

Next we sampled an excellent Pinot Noir and a Cabernet Sauvignon with a very smoky nose.  Our final red was a Syrah before trying a Gewurztraminer that was off-sweet and refreshing.  I’m not a fan of Gewurtztraminer and I found this one enjoyable and would certainly recommend it as a deck wine.

Unfortunately, like all things, my trip to California had to come to an end.  If you’re already in California I certainly recommend a trip to any of these vineyards, and if you’re not in California…what are you waiting for?  I want to thank all of the vineyards in both Napa and Sonoma that were so welcome to both my wife and I, and I look forward to coming out to try even more wine.

Related posts:

1. California Wine Country Day 1 – Napa Valley
2. Friends.Red Sonoma County Red Wine
3. Trinity Oaks Vineyards California Pinot Noir

Varietal: Pinot Grigio
Region: California – Anderson Valley – USA
Cost: $20

Fruity with bright orange and melon aromas.  Light, lemon and green apples on the palate end in a refreshing acid finish.  Pairs with salads, melon, cheeses, seafood, or by itself.

Recommendations: I’m very hit or miss on Pinot Grigio, preferring Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc for my white wine selections, but I did find this Pinot Grigio to be quite enjoyable.  Purchased by my parents during our trip to California several weeks before and sent home with me, this bottle had been chilling in my refrigerator for a few days while I tried to select something to pair it with.

A meal of salmon and and roasted red potatoes was what my wife and I paired this white with, and it was a great compliment to the seafood and the well seasoned potatoes, the melon and apple flavors, along with the acid finish, cutting through the richness of the salmon.

While I still prefer my Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, I can say that I enjoyed this Pinot Grigio and would recommend it to anybody in the market for a quality one at a good price.

Related posts:

1. Stone Mountain Pinot Grigio
2. Voga Italia Pinot Grigio
3. Charles Shaw Sauvignon Blanc

While we spent the first three days in the city, on Tuesday we finally ventured out to wine country, starting off with Napa.  The drive out there was beautiful, much like the weather we had the entire time we were on the West Coast (much to the chagrin of all of our friends back home on the East Coast).

Our first start was Trefethen Family Vineyards where we tried four different wines.  Their 2007 Chardonnay  was nice and light and very refreshing, with flavors of apple pie and a nice crisp finish.  After that we tried their 2006 Cabernet Franc, which I found to be much smoother than the Cabernet Franc that we have in Virginia, with silky tannins following hints of white pepper and chocolate covered cherries.

Our third taste was their 2006 Double T Red Wine, a Bordeaux blend made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec.  This wine had a great body and my wife and I actually bought a bottle to bring back to Virginia with us.

Our final tasting was a 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon with a deep ruby color.  Very smooth with black cherry and chocolate on the palate, it wasn’t at all fruity as April and I were expecting, a trend we noticed on all of the Cabernets we tasted.

Done with Trefethen, we moved on to Clos du Val just up the road.  Inside their tasting room we were greeted by a nice elderly man who soon had us tasting wine.

Clos du Val Wines

Our first taste was a white wine.  Ariadne is a blend of Semilla and Sauvignon Blanc (68%/32%) with flavors of white peach, fresh melon, and toast.  A nice acidity and no residual sugar make this a very refreshing wine that’s perfect for a day out on the patio or deck.  April and I purchased a bottle of this to enjoy outside at Clos du Val for just that purpose and I certainly recommend it for others.

Next we sampled a 2007 Chardonnay that featured aromas of pear, white peach, and citrus, which shows back up on the palate, along with some butter thanks to 10 months in French Oak barrels, which also adds to the golden color of the wine.

Moving over to reds, we started with a 2007 Pinot Noir.  Deep red color with a hint of purple, I very much enjoyed this Pinot, with silky smooth flavors of spice and black cherry to match aromas of strawberry and raspberry.

Next up was a 2006 Merlot.  While not usually a big Merlot drinker, this one was actually enjoyable.  Aromas of black fruit and black olive lead into an earthy red wine that offers flavors of spice and toast.

Finally we sampled a 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon.  Aromas of black currant and spice lead into another Cabernet that wasn’t at all fruit forward as I was expecting, instead featuring flavors of black fruit, spice, and dried herbs.

After enjoying a bottle of Ariadne outside with a light snack, my wife and I moved just down the road to Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars.

We started with the 2007 Sauvignon Blanc that featured flavors and aromas of ruby red grapefruit, mango, peach, nectarine, and guava.  A very citrusy white wine that I found very enjoyable.

The 2007 Karia Chardonnay had butter on the nose, but was a very mellow white with subtle roasted almond and vanilla cream flavors, and aromas of apple and white peach.

The 2006 Merlot was excellent.  With aromas that reminded me of Cabernet Franc more than anything, spice and cinnamon on the palate, and cherry and plum on the nose.  Very enjoyable even for somebody that isn’t a big Merlot drinker.

The 2006 Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon (featuring 8% Merlot) offers aromas of black fruit, primarily plum, and flavors of nutmeg, and especially rosemary.

The 2005 Fay Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% Cabernet that spent 24 months in French Oak offered aromas of violet, blackberry, nutmeg, and black licorice.  Flavors of chocolate, vanilla, and tobacco round out this wine that beat the French in a blind competition.

The 2005 S.L.V Cabernet Sauvignon offered earthy hints of black truffle on the nose with flavors of dark cherry and a smokiness that makes this a truly great steak wine.

Finally, the 2005 Cask23 Cabernet Sauvignon.  Aromas of black fruit and cigar box make this great on the nose, and flavors of clove, spice, and allspice make it great on the palate.

Regretfully leaving Stag’s Leap, April and I moved on to Folie a Deux before stopping for lunch.  A man cannot live on wine alone.

Folie a Deux (the makers of the Menage a Trois line of wines) started us off with a 2008 Chardonnay that was light with only a slight butter flavor, as it had spent only 7 months in French Oak.

Their 2007 Pinot Noir was very fruit forward and smooth, whereas their 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon was earthy and bold.

The 2007 Carneros Syrah from Folie a Deux had an excellent nose with tannins on the finish that made this a great pizza wine.  The 2006 Zinfandel was very light in color and was very smooth for a Zinfandel, showing very little light pepper.

Finally, the 2006 Napa Zinfandel.  Much darker than the first Zinfandel we tried and with more pepper, but still retaining the smoothness of the first.

After a stop for lunch, April and I moved on to the winery that she had been looking forward to all day, thanks to a recommendation from her sister-in-law.

Frog’s Leap Winery is a little bit off the path, but totally worth the stop.  The wine flight they offered as a tasting started with a 2007 Sauvignon Blanc with lots of grapefruit on the nose and flavors of white peach.  Very light and refreshing and a great wine for enjoying with seafood or spiced white meat.

Next was a 2007 Zinfandel with a jammy nose and flavors of cherry, clove, and allspice after spending 12 months in American Oak.

The 2006 Merlot spent 18 months in seasoned French and American oak.  Earthy with flavors of currants and dried herbs

Finally was the 2006 Rutherford, which spent 24 months in seasoned French oak.  A rich nose with black olive and flavors of earth and a slight brininess that reminded me of black olive.  I almost bought this one and would recommend it to anybody.

Our final stop of the day was Peju.  A beautiful tasting room was the perfect setting to finish our day with some great wine.  Their 2008 Chardonnay had a bit of butter both on the nose and the palate and featured a mild acidity that made it very enjoyable.

The 2008 Sauvignon Blanc had a lot of citrus on the nose with melon flavors that were very light and refreshing, which is what I love about Sauvignon Blanc.

The Provence was dark pink, being a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, and Chardonnay.  An excellent mix of sweet and dry, I actually bought a bottle of this to bring home, very unusual for me given my typical feelings towards pink wines.

The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon was had medium-dark coloring with a nice tannic structure, smooth flavors, and a slightly smoky finish.

We finished off our day with two Cabernet Francs.  The first, a 2006 Cabernet Franc was medium-dark, much different than those we get in Virginia, and was very dry, but still milder than what we grow here at home.  The second Cabernet, a 2005 Cabernet Franc Reserve featured pepper on the nose and was very dry and enjoyable.

Our day in Napa complete, we headed back to the city to recover before heading out to Sonoma the next day (which will be written up soon, I promise).  I had a great time at all of the wineries and vineyards and recommend that anybody out there visit any and all of them.

While spending time in San Francisco had already made me want to move out to the West Coast, my time in Napa only solidified this.  Damn you Napa.

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Varietal: Chardonnay
Region: South Australia
Cost: $11

An unwooded Chardonnay, offering crisp flavors of apple and citrus.  Pairs with chicken, pork, seafood, or light appetizers.

Recommendations: My wife is not a fan of oaked Chardonnay, so when we saw this in the store, we thought we’d give it a try.  The initial flavors of the wine are crisp with plenty of citrus and granny smith apple both on the nose and on the palate, which was perfect for the grilled chicken dinner we paired it with.

However, I found the finish of this wine to be a bit rough.  It’s certainly not as rough as the Mirassou Chardonnay that I’ve already reviewed on here.  That being said, the finish eventually began to bother me, especially after we had finished our food and were just sipping on the wine.  Maybe with a juicy piece of pork it wouldn’t be as noticeable, but with the chicken (that I’ll admit I overcooked), it just wasn’t as enjoyable as I would have hoped.

If you liked the Mirassou Chardonnay you’ll like this, but if you’re looking for a crisp finish to your unoaked Chardonnay you’ll want to pass on this one.

Get Razor’s Edge Chardonnay at WineZap – Click Here

Related posts:

1. Yellowtail Chardonnay
2. Mirassou Chardonnay
3. Four Vines “Naked” Chardonnay