I understand from talking with a wine maker who knows Stephen Tanzer that Tanzer tastes up to 60 wines a day. Wow! I can’t keep up with that pace, mainly because I’m not a superstar in the wine world and because I have a full-time job selling wine at the store I work at. I do however taste a fair amount, some weeks more then others. This week has been somewhat quiet in the tasting arena. I am very interested in chardonnay right now because I often get asked advice about which one to buy. Of course I have to ask what style they like, oaked or unoaked, creamy or austere, tropical fruit or butterscotch. To point them to the right one, I need to know the flavor profile of as many wines as possible, thus my research in tasting chards. Summer is here and the whites will now dominate. (I live in the Pacific Northwest). Here are my tasting notes for the week.
2009 Corvidae Wine Company Mirth Chardonnay (Columbia Valley, Washington) … $9.99
From wine maker David O’Reilly of Owen Roe fame, and one of my favorite wine makers comes this nice little chardonnay with a simple but effective label. There is no oak on this wine. Creamy on the palate with notes of peaches, red delicious apples and cream. In fact it tastes like someone through peaches, cream and apples in a blender and whipped up a pleasing beverage. This chard has fruit of course but is balanced and has a nice finish that is not sweet but certainly the flavors linger. I would be careful with this one if I were you because it goes down very easily. 89 points (There is a great price being offered on this wine right now so search it out, it is one of the best deals I’ve seen going so far!)
2009 Girard Chardonnay (Russian River Valley, California) … 19.99
This is a classic California chardonnay with out going over-board. A pleasing nose of pineapple, pear and apples with hints of butterscotch. Nice intense yet balanced flavors of pear and pineapple with hits of butterscotch and caramel. Nice acid that balances the fruit flavors giving you a feeling like the wine might go over-the-top yet it never does. Like driving a Ferrari you never shift past second gear. Well built with a nice flow across the palate leading into a long pleasing finish. Subtle enough to drink solo and intense enough to match up nicely with fish, fowl or a bowl of popcorn with gorgonzola cheese on it. 92 points
2008 Flowers Chardonnay (Sonoma Coast, California) … 42.99
Yes, this one is a little pricey but I think when you put your lips to it, you will be tempted to make this one your go-to chardonnay. I say this for those who like white Burgundies because this baby rivals a number that I have tasted with a heftier price tag. On those nose you are immediately hit with minerality, Asian pear, dusty apples and white flowers. Elegance, elegance, elegance. The wine hits your palate like it came straight out of Burgundy. Crushed rock, Asian pears, some lime components with hints of lemon and apple. If there is some California sunshine on this wine, it is hard to detect. Nice flow across the palate, seamless. The finish is persistent. Stand this up to an eighty to one hundred dollar white Burgundy and I think you would be hard-pressed to justify spending the extra fifty bucks. 95 points
2008 Corvidae Wine Company Rook (Columbia Valley, Washington) … 13,99
Like Mirth Chardonnay mentioned earlier, this is a creation of David O’Reilly. A blend of 45% merlot, 40% syrah and 15% cabernet sauvignon. This wine has a nose of blackberries, smoke and dark cherries. Fairly big on the front of the palate with intense spice and blackberry with underlying notes of cherry and currants. The wine intensifies on the mid-palate with the spice and pepper notes peaking then everything comes together on a pleasing finish of good length. This is not a shy wine, but it avoids being anything close to a fruit-bomb. Well made and the perfect red for summertime grilled food. 90+ points
2008 Northwest Totem Cellars Sangiovese (Yakima Valley, Washington) … 35.99
Mike Sharadin, bless his heart, has come up with another winner! You will not see this available until July 2 but I was lucky enough to taste it recently. 80% sangiovese, 10% syrah and 10% cabernet sauvignon, this wine serves up an intensity worthy of the price tag. Bright on the nose with notes of blueberries, cassis and red currants. Bold on the palate with intense notes of blueberry, cassis, and an underlying push of red cherries sprinkled with a little white pepper. Make sure you decant this a little before consuming to get the full power of this wine. Well balanced with a seemingly endless finish. Do you plan on any BBQ ribs this summer? This wine is a must for BBQ fare such as ribs, rib steaks, chicken with bbq sauce or… I think you get the idea. There isn’t a lot made so make sure you get a few bottles to tuck away for yourself or special friends. 92 points
I will soon be posting my notes from the box vs bottle tasting so look for those. Cheers! Stan The Wine Man
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