winewaves

Morgan Metallico Monterey Chardonnay 2004

Morgan produces Metallico Chardonnay using all cold tank fermentation and short aging in neutral 3-year-old oak.  No malolactic fermentation. 90 points.  The color is pale gold. The attractive aromas include a medley of citrus plus peach, pear, cold blossoms, grassy and mineral notes. The mouthfeel is juicy and round, with flavors of tart lemon-lime, grapefruit and green apples. The finish is clean, crisp, dry yet mouthwatering. The closure is a genuine cork. (A screw cap would be a plus.) The $18 Nashville price is a good value on an alternative to the classic American oak-aged Chardonnay.

Summerland Central Coast Pinot Noir 2002

Summerland Pinot Noir 2002 has been released for nearly two years, but is still available. This is 100% Central Coast Pinot Noir; Vineyard composition: 75% Monterey County, 15% Odyssey-Thurlestone, and 10% Bien Nacido.

Each of these three components was processed and aged separately. The oak was French, 10 months. 89 points. The color is deep dense cranberry. Aromas of cherry, cassia, citrus, earth, and spicy oak are very appealing. This is a bold Pinot Noir (14.1% alcohol), with ripe fruit, solid tannins and good mouthfeel. The fruit and spice flavors carry on throughout the dry, well-structured finish. The closure is a genuine cork. The $19 Nashville price tag is certainly a very good buy on a very good Pinot Noir from a very good vintage.

Hamilton Russell Vineyards Walker Bay South Africa Chardonnay 2004

Vineyard Brands imports this Estate Chardonnay. The Hamilton Russell Estate is located in the cool, maritime Walker Bay area, behind a fishing village called Hermanus, southeast of Cape Town in the Western Cape.

Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are the main focus here. This Chardonnay was barrel fermented and aged. The aging was 8 months in French Oak (about 3/10 new). 7500 cases were produced. 91 points. The color is light gold. The aromas are rich layers of peach, honey, buttered toast, and spicy oak. The texture is round and well-structured. The flavors include peach, apple, tart citrus and mineral. The finish is dry, with fruit and oak harmony. The closure is a genuine cork. The $25 (Nashville) price makes this an excellent buy in a rich but classic style Chardonnay.

Hendry Ranch Napa Valley Bench Lands Estate Blocks 19 & 20 Chardonnay 2002

Hendry Ranch is located in the Napa Bench Lands, a unique area at the south end of Napa Valley, between Oakville and Mount Veeder.

The Chardonnay vines within Blocks 19 and 20 are very low yielding Dijon clones (#95, #96), growing in austere volcanic rocky soil. Aging was Sur Lie in French Oak barrels, about half new. There was no malolactic fermentation. 92 points.  The color is on the light side, pale straw-gold. Here is a complex Napa Chardonnay with delicate aromas of pear, candied lemon, pretty floral notes, hints of nutmeg/spice, toast, and balanced oak. The mouthfeel is fleshy and well-structured. The flavors are ripe, lightly tart, with a very light oak accent. The dry finish continues to reverberate the natural fruit and hints of oak.

The closure is a genuine cork. (A screw cap would be a plus.)

The $26 Nashville price is a bargain on this very pure expression of Chardonnay fruit, from a unique growing area in Napa.

Dr. Konstantin Frank Finger Lakes New York Dry Riesling 2004

"Dr. Konstantin Frank is the pioneer grower of European wine grape varieties in the eastern United States, on Keuka Lake in New York State." Dr. Frank's wines sell well in Nashville. 90 points. Dr. Frank Dry Riesling is pale straw in color, with a light and lively texture. The aromas are honey, apricots and cold fruit blossoms. The flavors coordinate well, with tart apple, lemon-lime citrus and mineral. Nearly bone-dry on the palate/finish, with only a tiny bit of perceptable sugar, there are juicy fruity flavors throughout. Here is world class Riesling, on par with the best. The closure is a genuine cork. (A screw cap would be a plus.)

The $16 Nashville price is a very good value for a world-class New York wine.

Marietta California Old Vine Red Lot Number Thirty Seven

Marietta Old Vine Red is a field blend of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Carignane, Gamay, Syrah, and Cabernet. Geyserville (winery location) is in Sonoma County, and Marietta's "grapes are primarily from Sonoma and Mendocino County and grown in older, dry-farmed vineyards with limited production per acre." 88 points. The color is purplish-crimson. Blackberries, dried cherries, vanilla and spicy oak aromas and flavors predominate this medium-bodied easy-to-drink red. Light acidity and moderate tannins lead to a warm finish. The closure is a real cork. (A screw cap would be a BIG plus.)

The $12 Nashville price is a very good value. Drink by itself, with a burger or red sauce dish, but buy now and drink up before Lot #38 arrives.

Two Hands Wines The Lucky Country Barossa Valley Shiraz/Cabernet 2003

Imported by Vine Street Imports, this is actually a more value-oriented (they say "fun and energetic") label for renowned Two Hands' partners Michael Twelftree and Richard Mintz. Here is where some very fine but perhaps not legendary grapes wind up. The composition is 55% Shiraz and 45% Cabernet. 92 points.  The color is very dense cranberry, nearly opaque. Aromas of cherries, pomegranates, bacon, oak and mineral are beautifully well put together. This is a big fruity tannic wine with chewy texture, and everything's in balance. There's nice acidity and a lingering fruit filled dry finish. We enjoyed it with a Chili Bowl (a great match), after tasting it on its own. The closure is a screw cap.

At $17, this is a real bargain. Get some while it's available (don't blink and miss it), and enjoy it over the next year or two.

Barnett Vineyards Sonoma County Sangiocomo Vineyard Chardonnay 2003

The fruit for Barnett's Sangiacomo Chardonnay was sourced from Sonoma, specifically the Vella, El Novillero and Bates Blocks within Sangiacomo Vineyard, in Carneros (Sonoma County). The wine was aged sur lie, in French Oak (40% new, 60% once used). Only 25% underwent malolactic fermentation. (1166 cases) 91 points. The color is bright light gold. Here is a Chardonnay with nice complex aromas of peaches, honey, dried pineapple, tangerine and well-balanced oak. The tropical fruit flavors follow suit, with a big fleshy ripe mouthfeel, good minerality and lively acidity. The finish is totally dry, but the fruit and toasty oak reverberates.

The closure is a real cork. (A screw cap would be a plus.)

The $26 Nashville price is very reasonable, a bargain compared to some better known high-end Sonoma or Carneros Chards.

Stonehaven Winemaker's Selection South Australia Riesling 2004

Sue Bell is winemaker for this Winemaker's Selection Riesling. This line showcases more varietal character than the Stonehaven grocery store line priced below it. 87 points.  The color is pale straw. There are zippy fresh aromas of apricot jam, green apples, lime rind and minerals. Refreshing on the palate, the flavors confirm the aromas. The mouthfeel is light, with light acidity. The finish is clean, bone-dry and refreshing. The closure is a screw cap. The $9 Nashville price is a real bargain, and a refreshing change of pace from other white wines, and priced well compared to other dry Rieslings.

E. Guigal Cotes du Rhone Blanc 2003

Guigal's 2003 Cotes du Rhone Blanc is 50% Viognier, 20% Roussane, 12% Marsanne, 8% Clairette, 8% Bourboulenc, and 2% Grenache Blanc.  The vines average 25 years old, and the vinification is all stainless steel. 88 points.  The color is a pale gold, bright. The aromas are pretty but the fruit is restrained (peach/apricot), plus there are hints of floral/honeysuckle. The flavors follow suit, with apple and peach fruit, tart acidity, and a mineral note. The mouthfeel is excellent, with nice body and structure. The finish is crisp, clean and totally dry. The closure is a real cork. (A screw cap would be an improvement). For $13 (Nashville price), this is a well-structured French white wine value not to be overlooked. This would be a great food wine as well.