May 182011
With summer soon to be upon us and the patio calling for an evening of warm sunsets and cool white wines, I thought I’d share some of our favorite white wines from the recent posts Bacchus and Beery Wine Reviews page. There are many more great whites out there and part of our job is to find them for you… and we will!
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2009 Ramazzotti Chardonnay, Smith Vineyard, Dry Creek, CA, $20 (S) – Rating 4.0
A fresh and easy drinking Chardonnay. Clean on the palate with a nice blend to topical fruit, pinapple with a hint of lemon curd. The unfiltered and unrefined product of 25 year old vines and barrel fermentation, Ramazzotti Chardonnay is a great wine to pair with cheese and fruit.
2009 Deep Sea Viognier, Santa Barbara County, CA, $26 (S) – Rating 4.0
Bring on the summer. This Viognier by Deep Sea Wines is an elegant yet sexy wine ready for the patio. The flavors of stone fruit, pear, white peach, riverstone and a flinty minerality are well integrated with a soft floral nose into a wine you won’t ignore. Partial oak aging adds to the complexity and adds a richness to the mouthfeel.
2010 McPherson Cellars Viognier, Texas, $15 – Rating 4.1
McPherson Cellars Viognier is a stellar example of why Viognier is the perfect dry white wine grape for Texas. Think warm Texas evening under the oaks with a chilled wine stem brimming with flavors of citrus, honeysuckle and orange blossom with a touch of oak with a light Hill Country peach finish. This Viognier pairs wonderfully with spicy Thai food.
2009 Red Car Wine CO – BoxCar Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast, CA (S) $23 – Rating 4.0
BoxCar Chardonnay by Red Car Wine Company is a very well-made example of a mid-weight CA Chardonnay. The use of only 10% new oak moderates the oak flavors and allows the creaminess to rise to the top. Nice tropical and apple flavors with a touch of straw and minerality. The well integrated flavors are big enough to stand on its own but still pair well with food. Think grilled chicken rubbed with lemon pepper.
2009 Folie à Deux Chardonnay, Napa Valley, CA $18 (S) Rating 4.25
Paired with a piece of rare grilled tuna and a grilled salad (asiago cheese/peppercorn dressing, bacon & diced tomatoes), the Folie à Deux Chardonnay really hit the spot and held it’s own. Well developed flavors of red apple, peach, butter, oak and vanilla. This is no overblown CA Chardonnay but has a great blend of those oak, vanilla and buttery flavors we love. At $20 or less, it is a great buy.
2008 J Vineyards Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, CA, $28 (S) – Rating 4.25
J Vineyards Russian River Chardonnay takes a few minutes to open up but as with a beautiful flower you are rewarded with a elegantly structured food enhancing wine. A very well balanced wine with hints of Meyer lemon, tropical, floral and herbecous notes. Just enough oak and vanilla to create a luscious creamy mouth-feel.
2008 Stoller Estate SV Chardonnay, Dundee Hills, OR, $28 (S) – Rating 4.0
Stoller Estate has created a really beautiful Oregon Chardonnay. Barrel fermentation creates a lush rich mouth-feel balanced with a light toast and minerality. The wine was rich with pear, red apple, honey, spice, stone fruit and vanilla cream. As rich as it sounds, the moderate acidity makes it a good food pairing Chardonnay. May I have another glass please.
2008 Ceja Chardonnay, Napa Valley, Carneros, CA, $34 (S) — Rating 4.25
Another lovely wine by Ceja Vineyards. The Carneros fruit offers great body and structure. 100% barrel fermented and sur lie aged (no malolactic fermentation) for 11 months, this Chardonnay has a full bodied richness, balance and creaminess that is food friendly but still satisfying to the palate when enjoyed by itself.
So 2009 Folie à Deux Chardonnay got the best rating, good to know the reviews on white wines,thanks for sharing