While it would be great to drink high end wines everyday that's simply not the reality for most people. The majority are looking for bargains on the shelves, or at the very least a reasonable value for their everyday drinking dollar. Today and tomorrow I'll look at two modestly priced wines from Rosenblum Cellars and see if they get the job done. First up is a Chardonnay.
The 2007 Vintner's Cuvee Chardonnay from Rosenblum is 100% varietal. The fruit was sourced from vineyard sites throughout the state. It was aged in a combination of 60 gallon French and American oak barrels. The suggested retail price for this wine is $12.
Chardonnay is one of the varietals I'm personally most finicky about. Unfortunately the world is flooded with a sea of mediocre Chardonnay. Some of them are so over oaked I swear wood chips cling to the side of the glass. When they're great though, they can really speak to me.
This wine from Rosenblum isn't meant to set the world on fire and blow people away. The intent appears to be providing a widely available quality wine that people can afford to drink any night of the week. If that's the case, Rosenblum succeeds. This Chardonnay leads with a nose full of apple notes, underpinned by vanilla. The palate has crème brulee and apple pie crust notes. Spice and mineral notes along with some restrained toasty oak emerge in the finish.
The Rosenblum Vintner's Cuvee shows a fair amount of varietal character and is made in a crisp, clean style. If you're looking for any everyday Chardonnay that's often available for $10 or less, here's one worth trying. If this wine stays near as consistent as their Vintner's Cuvee Zinfandel has been over the years it'll be one to keep in mind.
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