Three Spring Value Chardonnays

With the warm winds of spring come the white wines for summer. Here are three good values to share, from least expensive and most clean to the more complex and fuller bodied.

Naked Grape Chardonnay, Mayfair Wine, $7/bottle.

With a greenish tint and aromas of citrus, honeysuckle and grapefruit on the nose.  In the mouth, a blend of crisp white pear and green apple. Clean, refreshing, enjoyable without barrel or mineral notes, this is a pure expression of the grape.  A good value; I am surprised more people don’t buy Naked Grape wines simply to understand the grapes themselves at less than the price of a single glass elsewhere.

http://www.thenakedgrapewine.com

Bogle Chardonnay 2011, Clarksburg CA. Mayfair Wine, $11/bottle.

Pale yellow green in color, this wine has a very delicate nose of wildflower and lemongrass. In the mouth, nice gentle fruit with good balance from the acidity, with added depth of oak.  These grapes  have been aged nicely on the vine and picked at the height of maturity. Delicious. I’ve been consistently impressed by the value offered from the reasonably priced wines from Bogle. This is another example of serious craftsmanship.

http://www.boglewinery.com/ourwines_chardonnay.php

Toasted Head Chardonnay 2010; Acampo, CA. Mayfair Wine, $12/bottle

Bright yellow color. Of the three wines, this tastes as if it is the longest barrel-aged with a long finish. The ‘toasted head’ refers to the toasting of the barrel which transfers more oak flavor to the wine and in this case, the oakiness is superior to other elements in the wine. Rich, savory flavors dominate this wine, which is heavy to those who like a gentle wine but perfect for those who want more body in their chardonnay, or for a pairing choice.

http://www.toastedhead.com/Wines/Chardonnay/index.htm?ssSourceNodeId=ToastedHeadHome&ssSourceSiteId=BSToastedHead

à votre santé!

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Napa Takes on European Styling

Bennett Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Napa Valley. Sample from Wine Chateau, $20/bottle.

Color is purple with ruby edging. A luxurious nose of black cassis berry with menthol, loam, musk and oak– I immediately thought of bottles aged over a decade with serious lineage and hefty price tags.

In the mouth, a hot mixture  (14.5% alcohol) of cassis, blackberry, and musk overtake the taste buds, with a hint of vanilla and wood in the long finish. What I felt to be a feminine wine shows power with balanced acidity and soft tannins, puckering up the mouth for the next bite or sip. What a pleasure to taste a Napa wine with just enough age to allow the structure to develop!

On my first tasting I refused to write anything as I enjoyed the wine, perhaps too much- which is an endorsement in itself. On my second tasting, I forced myself to stop, appreciate and note the herbal and mocha notes in the wine, though I enjoyed the qualities of the European-styled blending and aging more than the complexity of flavors. This wine drinks well at room temperature, but may be ideal when served slightly chilled to reduce the slight heat from the alcohol content, though the finish tapers slightly as a result.

This wine drinks favorably to wines that are double its price without being as costly or as old. To me, this is a home run for the American wine drinker who looks for a bottle that can be a lovely gift bottle at $20 or a great bottle to serve for dinner with special guests without breaking the bank. Here, you have the best of old word charm from new world farming at a very nice price. Pick up a couple of bottles- one to taste, and one to share or give away- you’ll be glad you did.

You can check out The Bennett Family’s site or buy their Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve direct from Wine Chateau.

Louis Jadot Beaujolais-Villages, 2011

Louis Jadot Beaujolais-Villages, 2011. 100% Gamay wine from Burgundy, France. Purchased for $12 from Mayfair Wine, Queens NY. 12.5% Alcohol.

Color: violet/purple color with ruby edging. Nose of strawberry, blueberry, some vegetation and new oak. In the mouth, lots of fresh red fruit with cassis, ripe plum, strawberry and dark cherry. Nice, slightly sour back palate- the acidity provides an even finish that lasts on the palate for seconds before the tannins swoop in with grippy tartness, urging your palate to take another bite or sip. The finish includes spice box, clove and pepper with some granite, loam and a hint of wood. A nicely-made and affordable burgundy that is hefty for a gentle wine- and this is indeed a gentle red, but could be described as full-bodied for a gamay. This paired elegantly with a light mixed green salad and pizza with mushroom and spinach.  A solid vin du table in the $10-12 price range you can trust to pair with the lighter fare. 

It has been a long time since I have tasted Louis Jadot and this bottle reminded me why you can find this popular Burgundy everywhere. Their products are consistent and provide decent value for the everyday wine drinker. It’s not a 90+ wine, but at this price point it isn’t pretending to be anything more than a nice vin du table, and it shines in that regard as a Burgundy for the humbler, unpretentious drinker.

à votre santé!