Cornerstone Cellars - 2009 Sauvignon Blanc

Cornerstone Cellars specializes in Cabernet Sauvignon. Their releases featuring fruit from Napa Valley in general and Howell Mountain specifically have both been excellent over quite a few vintages. Lately they have been expanding in other areas. This includes Cabernet Franc and Grenache under their Second label, Stepping Stone. These wines as well as an upcoming Pinot Noir release are made from fruit sourced outside of their Napa home. Most recently they have added a Sauvignon Blanc under their Cornerstone name. Sauvignon Blanc is one of the varietals that seems to be planted in ever major wine region and flourishes, in different ways, in many of them. I’ll look at that Napa Valley release today. The Cornerstone Cellars 2009 Sauvignon Blanc was produced using Napa Valley fruit. This wine is 100% varietal and it was fermented in stainless steel over a month. Sur-lie aging in older barrels followed. This wine was then bottled in February. The suggested retail price for this Sauvignon Blanc is $25.

Citrus and hibiscus aromas mark the fresh and vibrant nose of this 2009 Sauvignon Blanc. The palate is layered with Citrus and melon fruit flavors that are buttressed by a hint of creaminess. Underlying those are pineapple, mango and other tropical flavors. Additional spice characteristics are joined by a wallop of minerals on the lengthy finish. This Sauvignon Blanc shows off solid acidity.

Each wine I’ve had from Cornerstone Cellars has been fruit driven, balanced and elegant. This new release Sauvignon Blanc is no exception to that track record.

Robert Oatley - 2009 Rosé / 2009 Pinot Grigio / 2009 Sauvignon Blanc

Today I’m going to take a look at three more wines that are perfectly suited for warm weather drinking. These selections are all from Robert Oatley Vineyards. This producer is located in the Mudgee section of Australia, one of the highest elevation winegrowing regions in the country. Robert Oatley has been making wine in Australia for over 40 years. Over time he began to procure land in the Mudgee region and when the time came to start his namesake winery he did so there. First up is the Robert Oatley 2009 Rosé of Sangiovese. This wine was made from fruit sourced at the family vineyards 1,500 feet plus above sea level in Mudgee, This offering is 100% varietal and saw no oak treatment. This wine has a suggested retail price of $15. The nose of this Rosé is marked by aromas of cherry and fresh wild strawberry. Throughout the palate watermelon flavors lead the charge accompanied by cherry and red raspberry as well. A hint of orange peel kicks in at the back of the palate and leads to the finish which has a host of spice notes and lingering fruit flavors. This wine shows crisp acidity and good balance

Next up is the Robert Oatley 2009 Pinot Grigio. Fruit for this wine was sourced from a vineyard in the Adelaide Hills of South Australia. This wine is 100% Pinot Grigio. Alcohol content is a modest 13% for this offering. This wine has a suggested retail price of $16. Bartlett pear and lychee fruit aromas are the most prominent components of this wine’s nose. Orchard fruit is the key element in the palate with both apple and pear playing a big role. Hints of vanilla and pie crust underlie the fruit. Ginger and white peach flavors emerge in the finish which also shows off hints of savory fruit. This Pinot Grigio has more in common with old word examples than it does with most new world versions. It’s crisp, dry and a natural partner for food.

Last up this time out is the Robert Oatley 2009 Sauvignon Blanc. Fruit for this selection was sourced in Pemberton on the Western side of Australia, almost 2,000 miles from Mudgee. This selection is 100% Sauvignon Blanc. As with the other two selections alcohol content is modest, in this case 12.2%. This wine, like the others, is finished in screw cap and has a suggested retail price of $16. Gooseberry, lemon zest and wisps of grass are all present in the nose of this Sauvignon Blanc. An array of citrus flavors is on display throughout the palate; grapefruit, lime and lemon are the strongest trio. All the citrus notes are accompanied by copious amounts of spice. These come together to form a zippy, zesty flavor profile. Hints of white peach and honey emerge on the finish along with continuing spice, particularly white pepper. This wine has excellent acidity.

These three wines from Robert Oatley have much in common despite being very different wines in most ways. Balance and food friendliness are the key elements they share. While each wine is full favored and loaded with varietal character none of them are over the top, or quite frankly anywhere in that ballpark. These are wines you can enjoy every day that will pair well with warm weather and food. Their modest alcohol content and even keeled nature also means they won’t exhaust your palate. With a suggested retail price of around $15 apiece these wines are good values.

Two Angels - 2008 Sauvignon Blanc

With spring here and summer on the way it’s the perfect time to enjoy lighter more refreshing wines. One of the varietals that scream warm weather to me is Sauvignon Blanc. This adaptable varietal is made in many of the world’s major wine regions. And as is the case with a red varietal like Cabernet Sauvignon, the different regions of the world impart their own stamp upon it. High Valley, north of Napa in California is an area that has been making some interesting and noteworthy Sauvignon Blanc the last few years. Today I’ll look at one from Two Angels. The Two Angels 2008 Sauvignon Blanc was made exclusively from fruit sourced at Shannon Ridge Vineyards in High Valley. Two separate lots were chosen for this wine, picked 10 days apart. These vineyards sit approximately 2,200 feet above sea level. This offering is 100% Sauvignon Blanc. Just over 2,500 cases of this vintage were produced and the suggested retail price is $15.99.

Citrus, green melon and grass aromas fill the expressive nose of this 2008 Sauvignon Blanc. Gooseberry, honeydew melon and continued citrus themes make up the generously fruity palate of this wine.  Subtle peach and apricot notes along with hints of apple kick in around mid-palate and continue to the crisp and refreshing finish along with white pepper and hazelnut characteristics. This wine has terrific acidity and very good balance.

What stands out to me about this wine is that it features elements of both citrus and grass leaning Sauvignon Blancs. That said it falls towards the citrus side of things. The bottom line is that the Two Angels Sauvignon Blanc is a delicious wine that exemplifies the best of the style that is being produced these days using fruit from High Valley. Whether you drink it alone or pair it with lighter foods, this Sauvignon Blanc will shine.

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Clarendelle - 2006 White Bordeaux

Wines from Europe are often intimidating to the average US consumer. Sometimes it’s due to perceived cost concerns, other times it’s due to confusion over labeling. The truth is that there are a lot of great wines from all over Europe that are very reasonably priced and offer similar quality to price ratios as new world counterparts do. Today I’m going to look at a white wine from the Bordeaux region of France. This 2006 Clarendelle Blanc Bordeaux is a blend of Sémillon (46%) Sauvignon Blanc (44%), and Muscadelle (10%). The suggested retail price for this wine is $19.95.

Aromas of lemon zest and orange blossom are both prominent in the nose of this wine. Citrus continues through the palate. It's joined by tropical fruit such as mango, guava and kiwi. Honeydew emerges as well and carries through the finish which has a nice edge of creaminess and a host of appealing spice notes, notably white pepper. This wine is impeccably balanced and features good acidity. I paired this White Bordeaux with a crostini topped with caramelized onions, sautéed mushrooms and a triple creme cows milk cheese. It was a tremendously satisfying match. This wine also drinks nicely on its own.

Two things most impress me about this wine. The level of complexity in the price range is one thing. Layers of flavor emerge as you let this wine wash over you. It’s important to note that while this wine should definitely be chilled, avoid over chilling it. Many of the nuances are lost if this is served too cold. Cellar temperature of approximately 55 degrees works very well. The other thing that impressed me is how seamless of a blend this really is. Certainly benchmark qualities of each varietal shine through, but more than that they come together to form a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. A very nice White Bordeaux and a very well priced one at that. If you’re drinking new world Sauvignon Blanc or similar style blends try the Clarendelle out, you might be surprised by what a terrific value it is.

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Thanksgiving On A Budget With The Robert Mondavi Family of Wines

With Thanksgiving a couple of days away it’s time to think about what wines to serve with your holiday meal. This year, as much if not more than any other, many are faced with the need to make the holiday not only joyful but affordable as well. With that in mind I’ve picked out a trio of tasty selections that come in at a budget price. All three come from labels that were started by Robert Mondavi. Over the years in addition to his namesake Napa winery he started a number of other labels in all parts of the world with numerous focuses. Today I’ll look at three from California facilities that hit the spot taste wise and won’t break the budget either. First up is the Robert Mondavi Private Selection 2008 Sauvignon Blanc. The fruit for this wine comes predominately from Monterey County (92%) with San Benito County (5%) and Paso Robles (3%) making up the rest. In addition to Sauvignon Blanc (94%), Riesling (3%) and Gewürztraminer (3%) are blended in. This selection was aged and fermented in stainless steel. The suggested retail price for this offering is $11.

Lemon Zest notes dominate the fresh nose of this Sauvignon Blanc Throughout the palate stone and citrus fruit characteristics are prominent. Lemon ice in particular is a standout flavor. A hint of grass comes in during the mid-palate and continues through the finish along with mineral notes and a touch of flint. The finish is crisp and clean featuring good length in its category and excellent acidity.

Especially at holiday time it’s nice to have several wines throughout the day. This Sauvignon Blanc will serve equally well as a welcome wine or paired with appetizers. It’s tasty on it’s own but the terrific acidity it showcases will help make it a match with a host of lighter foods.

The second wine is the Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi 2007 Zinfandel. Fruit for this wine is sourced mostly in Lodi (94%) with the balance coming from several other California regions. In addition to Zinfandel (91%), Merlot (3%), Petite Sirah (2%), Malbec (2%) Cabernet Sauvignon and other varieties (2%) are blended in. The suggested retail price for this wine is $8.

This 2007 wine leads with a jam-laden nose, so typically associated with Zinfandel. It’s loaded with berry, cherry and hint of cedar. The palate is very juicy with red and black fruit flavors intermingling and fighting your tongue for attention, Black cherry is particularly prominent. The finish features sweet cocoa, sour berry, white pepper and vanilla that echoes persistently. This is a well balanced and food friendly Zinfandel.

Thanksgiving is perhaps the most American of holidays. Zinfandel is the closest we have to a heritage grape in this country. The two go together philosophically as well as they do pairing wise. This wine is a good fit for the abundant cornucopia of foods on the average American Thanksgiving table. For $8 a bottle you can have a lot of it on hand to quench everyone’s thirst.

The final wine for a tasty and budget priced Thanksgiving is the Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi 2008 Moscato. Grapes for this wine were sourced from throughout California. This 100% Muscat is a blend of Muscat Canelli (60%), Orange Muscat (30%) and Muscat of Alexandria (10%). Alcohol content is a modest 10% for this selection. The suggested retail price for this wine is $8.

Lychee fruit and honey clove make up the inviting nose of this wine. Orange blossom, tangerine and apricot notes are all prominent throughout the palate of this Moscato. Subtle white pepper notes kick in around mid-palate and continue through the finish along with additional honey and citrus notes. This wine is light, fragrant and sweet but not overly so.

This 2008 Moscato will be a good choice to pair with dessert. Fruit tart or Italian Cheesecake both come to mind as excellent matches. Alternatively this wine could be dessert on its own.

Each of these wines is true to its varietal and is a solid value. Shop around and you’ll find them for less than the suggested retail price. Savvy shoppers will be able to round all three of them up for less than $25 combined. Now that’s some Holiday drinking on a budget. These wines are also widely available so you should easily be able to find them throughout the US and beyond.

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Rodney Strong - 2008 Charlotte's Home Sauvignon Blanc

Rodney Strong Vineyards is one of the larger Sonoma County producers. They’re also a consistent one, routinely turning out well made wines that speak of their Sonoma County origins. With all the boutique Wineries out there it sometimes becomes easy to focus on them and forget what the Rodney Strong's of the world bring to the table.  Producers like Rodney Strong Vineyards serve an important purpose; not only do they make good wine consistently, often at a fair price, it’s also widely available. There are many places throughout our country that simply don’t have the ability to stock small boutique productions. So having larger producers who do make interesting, and reliable wines is important, because there sure are a lot of folks who are not making wines that inspire passion. Rodney Strong also makes some small production offerings, giving their portfolio nice variety for those who wish to delve deeper. Today I’ll look at the current release of their Charlotte’s Home Sauvignon Blanc. The Rodney Strong Vineyards 2008 Charlotte’s Home Sauvignon Blanc is produced from fruit sourced at several of their Estate Vineyards. Fruit from the namesake vineyard in Alexander Valley is blended with selections from a couple of others in Alexander Valley and Russian River. This wine is 100% Sauvignon Blanc. 9% was fermented in French oak with the majority fermented in stainless steel tanks. The suggested retail price for this wine is $15.

Lemon ice, hints of lime and an overall mélange of citrus fill the nose of this 2008 Sonoma Sauvignon Blanc. The citrus circus continues through the palate; grapefruit and lemon are most prominent and underscored by orchard fruit such as Bartlett pear a wisp of granny smith apple and an array of spice notes. The finish is clean, crisp and refreshing with a lingering wallop of citrus and good punch of acidity to close things out. Pair this up with a variety of lighter fare or drink it on its own.

This is a classic example of Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc. It's also a selection that I preferred ice cold. The cooler temperature really seemed to help show off the citrus elements which are the backbone of this wine. This is another consistent and reasonably priced entry from Rodney Strong.

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Two Wines From Brancott In New Zealand

Brancott in New Zealand planted the first commercial vineyards in Marlborough more than 30 years ago. In 1979 they made their first vintage of Sauvignon Blanc. This is particularly noteworthy when you consider what an important role that varietal plays in the history, evolution and world-wide recognition of New Zealand’s Wine Industry. Today I’ll look at two of their current release wines, not surprisingly one is in fact a Sauvignon Blanc. The Brancott 2008 Reserve Sauvignon Blanc is made from fruit sourced at two vineyards. This offering is comprised completely of Sauvignon Blanc. The suggested retail price for this wine is $19.

Melon, gooseberry and lemon zest are prominent in the nose. They carry through the palate which also features peach characteristics and hint of grass. Mineral notes, white pepper and some mouth puckering tartness emerge on the finish. Crisp, abundant acidity frames everything and makes this a Sauvignon Blanc that lends itself quite favorably to food.

What stood out most about this Sauvignon Blanc is that even with its hint of grassiness it leans away from the style that normally comes to mind in New Zealand. While that typically grassy Zealand style is often great, I like seeing something different and well done.

The second wine from Brancott is the 2007 Terraces “T” Marlborough Pinot Noir. This wine is of course 100% Pinot Noir. Aging was accomplished in French oak; ages ranged from new to two years old. The suggested retail price for this Pinot Noir is $32.

Black cherry and vanilla dominate the nose of this Pinot Noir. Throughout the palate, raspberry, clove nutmeg and white pepper are prominent along with subtler but present hints of cocoa. The finish of this classy Pinot Noir has an avalanche of deliciously pleasing sour cherry. The structure of this wine is framed by terrific acidity. This is one of those Pinot’s you can order at a restaurant when everyone at the table is eating a diverse array of foods.

What impressed me most about this selection is that it’s clearly age worthy. It should really come together and improve in the short term (2-3 years) and drink well for a couple of years after that. Good and great Pinot Noir is not inexpensive. This is an excellent one at a reasonable price.

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Dry Creek Vineyard - 2007 Sonoma County Fumé Blanc

Today I'll look at the third Sauvignon Blanc from Dry Creek Vineyard. This is perhaps the varietal they are best known for. While the previous selections I looked at where single vineyard offerings, this is their county appellation, widely available, take on Sauvignon Blanc. The 2007 Fumé Blanc is made from Sonoma County fruit. This wine is 100% varietal. This offering was fermented in stainless steel. Just less than 30,000 cases of this wine were produced and the suggested retail price is $14.50

Citrus peel emerges on the nose along with stone fruit and light but noticeable grass notes. The palate of this Sauvignon Blanc is rich and mouth-filling with a host of citrus, gooseberry and kiwi throughout. The finish is generous in length and loaded with continued citrus as well as tropical fruit notes. Mineral and spice notes also emerge and linger to the very last. This wine has excellent acidity and good balance. It'll work well as an aperitif or paired with a wide range of lighter cuisine.

The lasting impression from this particular wine is of a Sauvignon Blanc that far outshines its price tag. There are countless Sauvignon Blanc's in this price range. Few of them offer the amount of rich fruit, complexity, quality and overall pleasurable drinking experience that this fine example from Dry Creek Vineyard does. What I often find lacking in other Sauvignon Blanc's in this neighborhood is that they can be out of whack. Either too much acidity or leaning too far towards the citrus or the grassy side. Thankfully this one has none of those issues. With close to 30,000 cases produced this one is going to be easy to find and likely for closer to $12.

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Dry Creek Vineyard - 2006 Estate Fumé Blanc DCV3

A couple of weeks back I looked at one of the Sauvignon Blanc's from Dry Creek Vineyard. Today I'll look at one of the others. They make three different Sauvignon Blanc's. What's impressive about that, is the distinction between them. The 2006 Estate Fumé Blanc DCV3 from Dry Creek Vineyard is produced from fruit sourced in a single vineyard. The DCV3 stands, in fact, as the very first vineyard in Dry Creek Valley planted to Sauvignon Blanc. This wine was fermented in stainless steel. It's made of 100% Sauvignon Blanc. 497 cases of this wine were produced and the suggested retail price is $25.

The nose of this Estate Sauvignon Blanc is predominately filled with grapefruit and lemon notes. Throughout the palate both citrus and grassy notes are resplendent. White pepper accompanies incredibly fresh citrus flavors from the mid-palate through the finish. That long, persistent finish has drying mineral notes and a final hint of grass. This wine is crisp, clean and buttressed by excellent acidity.

A couple of things stand out above everything else about this particular Sauvignon Blanc. First of all it does an excellent job of combining both the grassy and citrus laden sides of the varietal. That leads to the second thing that impresses me. This wine has a vast array of subtle layers and complexity that reveal themselves if you take the time to consider this wine.

Compared to the Musqué the DCV3 Estate Sauvignon Blanc is leaner and crisper. Each is impressive in its own right, it just depends on what you're looking for. Stay tuned as I'll look at a third Sauvignon Blanc from Dry Creek Vineyard later this month.

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Veramonte - 2008 Sauvignon Blanc

Over  years the number  of wines on US shelves from South American countries has increased. Value, quality and availability often fluctuate. Some producers stay on the shelves and provide a consistent product year after year. In the case of today's wine from Veramonte it hit US shelves in 1998, exactly a decade ago. Today I'll look at their Sauvignon Blanc. The 2008 Veramonte Sauvignon Blanc is made from fruit sourced in Chile's Casablanca Valley. This wine is 100% varietal. This offering is fermented entirely in stainless steel. 70,000 cases of this wine were imported and the suggested retail price is $10.99.

The Veramonte Sauvignon Blanc  has a delicate pale straw color in the glass. The nose is filled with citrus and honeysuckle notes. It really wafts from the glass beckoning you in for a sip. Citrus notes along with gooseberry and honeydew melon are prominent throughout the palate. This Sauvignon Blanc finishes with a clean, crisp acidic bite. It satisfies and calls you back for another sip. This will be a nice wine as an aperitif or matched with lighter dishes such as an entrée salad or goat cheese puff appetizers.

If you're a fan of Sauvignon Blanc made in a style that leans towards citrus flavors this is a good example to check out. This wine is often available for around $8 and with 70,000 cases imported it won't be hard to find. A good bet as a house white. Vermaonte has been a consistent producer from Chile worth investigating from vintage to vintage.

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Dry Creek Vineyard - 2006 Taylor's Vineyard Musqué

There are several varietals that come to mind when I think of Dry Creek Vineyard. One of those is Sauvignon Blanc. They make three different offerings of this varietal. One is part of their Signature Wines series and the other two are part of their Single Vineyard offerings. I'm going to look at all three of the current Sauvignon Blanc releases this month. I'll start today with one of the single vineyard selections. The 2006 Taylor's Vineyard Musqué is 100% varietal. The grapes used represent a specific clone of Sauvignon Blanc that Dry Creek Vineyard isolated to produce this offering. This wine was fermented in stainless steel. 539 cases of this selection were produced and the suggested retail price is $25.

Honeydew melon and a host of tropical fruit notes lead an explosive nose that's underpinned by spices. The palate is rich, round and mouth filling throughout. This is a smooth, lush, opulent white wine loaded with guava, pear, pineapple and nutmeg from beginning to end. The finish on the 2006 Musqué is impressively long with lots of mineral and spice notes as well as a light undercurrent of subtle smoke. Tremendous acidity makes this an excellent match for many foods.

There are several things that make this wine stand out for me. The tremendous nose is one. The outstanding finish is another. At the end of the day though I'm most impressed by how unique this wine is. Sometimes wines produced from single vineyards or isolated clones aren't as individualistic as one would think they're going to be. That's not a problem here. The Taylor's Vineyard Musqué from Dry Creek Vineyard is both unique and impressive. I've tasted a boatload of Sauvignon Blanc this year, this is one of my 2 or 3 favorites. This is undeniably a wine to go out of your way to get.

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Rodney Strong Vineyards - 2007 Sauvignon Blanc

The last wine from Rodney Strong Vineyards I'm looking at right now is a Sauvignon Blanc. I find this to be a white varietal that really speaks of summer. There's something about the crisp acidity and bold flavors featured in many Sauvignon Blancs that make them an excellent warm weather beverage. The 2007 Rodney Strong Vineyards Charlotte's Home Estate Sauvignon Blanc is sourced primarily the Charlotte's Home vineyard with some fruit coming from other estate vines in Russian River & Alexander Valley. A small percentage of the fruit was fermented in Oak with the majority fermented in Stainless Steel. The suggested retail price for this wine is $14.

The 2007 Sauvignon Blanc from Rodney Strong has an immense nose filled with grapefruit, ripe bosc pear, Meyer lemon and subtle spice notes. The first thing that's apparent when sipping this wine is that it's in the citrus school of Sauvignon Blancs, not the grassy school. That tends to be my preference. Gooseberry, melon, and pear fill the palate of this wine which is very clean, crisp and refreshing. The mid-palate is incredibly rich, fruity and mouth-filling. The finish brings out mineral notes that linger, along with continued zest from the plethora of citrus notes. This wine will pair with light summer foods. Personally I liked this one better sipped on its own.

What I like best about this wine is that it's essentially summer in a glass. All the bright fruit notes, underscored by some mineral and spice complexity speak to me of warm weather. While the suggested retail price is $14, this wine is widely available for closer to $10. If you like Sauvignon Blanc this is a nice value.

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Spier - 2005 Private Collection Sauvignon Blanc

Spier is a South African Winery who's roots in the industry take back to the late 1600's.  They make wines in as many as 6 different tiers. Prices, styles and intent range amongst the tiers. Over the next few days I'll be looking at 4 wines in the Spier portfolio. The 2005 Sauvignon Blanc is from the Private Collection. This is the highest rung on the Spier quality scale.  The wines at this level are from single vineyard plots and released in limited quantity each year assuming the selected grapes are up to snuff. Suggested retail price on this wine is approximately $28.

The nose of this wine opens with a lot of citrus which is underscored by a subtler but persistent grassiness. The first sip reveals and incredible fruitiness and well balanced acidity. This wine is rounder and more full bodied than the average Sauvignon Blanc. The mid palate continues the citrus theme with an undercurrent of pineapple and a touch of green pepper. The finish is long and persistent with spice notes closing things out.

For a Sauvignon Blanc that's three years old as I write this, the Spier Private Collection is very fresh and lively. It has another 2-3 years of life ahead of it, assuming it's well stored.

Truthfully I don't often consider spending the sort of money on a Sauvignon Blanc that this wine goes for. That said it's one of the more impressive and complex Sauvignon Blanc's I've had in a long while. And while the retail is in the upper $20's, this wine can be found for much closer to $20. At that price Spier is offering a wine that straddles the world of Sauvignon Blanc's. It has the citrus associated with them in many parts of the world as well as some of the grassiness most often associated with Sauvignon Blanc emerging from New Zealand.

Up Next: Spier Private Collection Pinotage.

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Schug - 2006 Sauvignon Blanc

Up first, in my coverage of Schug Carneros Estate wines, is their 2006 Sauvignon Blanc. The fruit was sourced from several diverse vineyards in Sonoma County and just over 1,600 cases of this wine were produced. Retail price on this Sauvignon Blanc is $18. A ton of grapefruit is the main story of this Sauvignon Blanc's nose. The first sips reveals an accompanying zesty tartness. That tartness disappears pretty quickly as the wine opens up a bit in the glass. This gives way to a lot more fruit flavors that coat the mouth through the mid-palate. More grapefruit, melon and lychee fruit come out and carry on through the substantial finish, which also features an underlying spiciness that tingles the tongue and back of the throat in a very pleasant manner. This wine is clean, crisp and very well balanced. Some of the wine was aged in large oak casks. This added a layer of complexity, but is subtle enough not to detract from the fruit.

This Sauvignon Blanc is an excellent match for mild cheeses. I had it with a wine cured goat cheese and found it to be a perfect complement. I expect it would also be a terrific match for entree salads and other lighter foods. Though it's built for food, this wine also works well sipped on it's own. Drinking it made wish for summer to get here quickly.

For $18 the 2006 Schug Sauvignon Blanc is undoubtedly a good buy. What impressed me the most about it is the impeccable balance and restraint it shows. Often Sauvignon Blancs swing too far one way or the other for my taste. The 2006 Schug Sauvignon Blanc however, is right in my sweet spot for this varietal.

Tomorrow: A look at two distinct Chardonnays from Schug Carneros Estate.

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Shannon Ridge Vineyards and Winery

Napa and Sonoma get a lot of attention for producing great wines. Much of it is deserved, but there are several areas in California that aren't as well known yet, also producing noteworthy wines. One of those regions is Lake County California. Many well known wineries from outside Lake County have been sourcing fruit there for years. Now the number of wineries in the area is also growing. One of these Wineries is Shannon Ridge. They were founded in 2002 and currently produce about 13,000 cases of wine. Their winery sits on 1,000 acres in Lake County. Eventually they plan to have between 60 and 70 percent of that land under vine.  The rest will be preserved for the wildlife that roam the area in and around them.

Sauvignon Blanc is one of 3 whites Shannon Ridge made in the 2006 vintage. It hits you immediately with a big nose full of citrus and guava notes. The first sips are surprising considering how big the nose is. This Sauvignon Blanc hits the palate gently at first. The citrus is present but not overwhelming.  The mid palate of this wine is quite delightful. It absolutely dances on the tongue, balancing citrus, gooseberry and a nice acidity. It fills the mouth, but drinks smoothly with no sharp edges. The finish is significant, long enough in fact to be noticeable and impressive. Although this Sauvignon Blanc drinks beautifully on it's own, it will also pair well with a variety of different foods. I found it to be a wonderful match with Chinese Pork Dumplings. The suggested retail price is $16.00 although Wine-Searcher.com shows it can be found in some shops for a few dollars less. Well worth the money.

At just over 3,700 cases the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon stands as Shannon Ridge's largest production of 2006. The Sauvignon Blanc was close at 3,600 cases. The Cabernet has berries on the nose and the first sip reveals a touch of tartness. This likely comes from the 10% Petite Verdot that was blended in. After the wine had time to breathe that touch of tartness softened up and the wine had a more luxurious quality to it. White pepper is the story of this Cabernet's mid palate. If you enjoy the spice on your tongue and the back of your throat that comes from those peppery notes this is indeed a Cabernet to seek out. Along with the spice there are lots of deep, dark berry notes present. A touch of oak shows up but does not overwhelm the palate in any way. This is definitely a Cabernet that is ready to drink now. It will also marry well with a wide variety of foods. I had it with pork and it was a nice accompaniment. It's is however a Cabernet Sauvignon that is smooth enough to enjoy on it's own. The suggested retail price is $19.00 but Wine-Searcher once again shows it can be found for a couple of dollars less in some instances. A solid Cabernet to drink in it's youth and a must for lovers of strong white pepper notes.

Significantly smaller in production than the other two wines is their 2006 Syrah. This less than 1,500 case lot has 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petite Verdot blended in. The first thing that hit me from this Syrah was a huge nose filled with Blackberries. Sipping it the Syrah reveals itself to be pretty big and bold. There is a bit of jam that brings to mind Zinfandel. That thought only lingers briefly though. The mid palate brings on some mocha notes and more dark berry fruit. This Syrah is full bodied, mouth filling and an absolute pleasure to drink. The finish has blueberry notes as well as a hint of malted chocolate. It lingers on the palate for a good long while. A treat to drink on it's own this Syrah will pair well with roasted meats, BBQ and perhaps even dark chocolate among others. Retail on this wine is also $19.00. As with the others I found it to be fairly priced.

All three wines I previewed from Shannon Ridge Vineyards and Winery are enjoyable and worth seeking out. However, I found the Sauvignon Blanc to be the most unique of the three and worth going that extra mile to find if you have to. In the grand scheme of things Shannon Ridge are a fairly young operation. With these wines, they show themselves to be one to watch.

Hall - Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc

  Depending on where it's from and how it's made Sauvignon Blanc can take on many distinct flavor profiles. Taste a well made example from New Zealand side by side with a Sauvignon Blanc from anynwhere else in the world if you need proof that wine can have a sense of place.

The 2006 Sauvignon Blanc from Hall in Napa Valley leads with a citrus laden nose. A hint of guava follows behind it.

The first sip reveals more citrus accompanied by an undercurrent of mineral and a well defined sense of acidity.

Zest comes through heartily on the mid-palate and hangs through the long, lingering finish.

There is a cleanliness to this wine that makes it incredibly refreshing and easy to drink. It's long finish and complexity however make it a Sauvingon Blanc to contemplate.

This is unquestionably a wine to take seriously. Suggested Retail Price is $20.00. However a quick look at Wine-Searcher.com reveals it can be found for as low as $15.00. This is an extremely well made wine easily worth either price.

Some Napa wineries seem to treat Sauvignon Blanc as an afterthought. Just a white wine to pour before the big reds. Thankfully that's not always the case. When made well, Sauvignon Blanc can be a revelation. It's clear that Hall treats theirs with as much care, gentle handling and respect as the rest of their well regarded portfolio of wines.