We’ve been browsing the white wine aisles a bit more as spring approached and the weather warmed. Out of more than 100 wines tasted recently, we narrowed the search to a more workable number and Tweeted about them over the past month, with mostly Chardonnays, plus two tasty Sauvignon Blancs and a fine, fruity Gewurztraminer.
Simi
Chardonnay
- Super value Sonoma Chardonnay ’12 Main & Geary $8. light weedy nose; oak; minerals; mid-body; semi-crisp fruity finish; nice style. w/apps
- Food-friendly value Sonoma Chardonnay ;12 Kenwood $10. Weedy, citrus, varietal nose; mid-body, good acids, balanced, fruity finish.
- Value Monterey Chardonnay ’10 Maddelena $10. Weedy, toasty, buttery nose; soft acids, decent fruit, fat finish. w/apps, cheeses
- Quaffing Chardonnay ’11 Sterling Central Coast $11. Toasty weedy nose; mid-body; decent acids; a little short. w/munchies
- Value Santa Rita Hills Chardonnay ’10 Lincourt Courtney’s $12. varietal nose, light oak, minerals; mid-body, semi-crisp fruity finish.
- Value Sonoma Chardonnay ’12 Simi $12. Toasty, peachy, tropical nose; mid-body; soft acids; decent fruit/flavor. w/apps
- Dependable value Chardonnay ’12 Wente Riva Ranch $13. Toasty, buttery, citrus nose; mid-body, semi-crisp fruity finish. w/sea bass
- Buttery Monterey Chardonnay ’12 San Simeon $13. Peachy, stone fruit nose, vanilla; mid-body, soft, good varietal flavor, texture.
- Value NZ Chardonnay ’11 Craggy Range Kidnappers $13. Clean varietal nose; stone fruit, Chablis-like; mid-body; soft fruity finish. w/fish
- Value Mendoza Chardonnay ’12 Catena Zapata $15. Stone fruit, wood nose; toasty; semi-viscous, long fruity finish. w/apps
- Fine Rully ’11 Drouhin $21. Straightforward Chardonnay nose, light oak, citrus; good acids; mid-body; fruity finish. w/shrimp
- Well-made Dundee Hills Chardonnay ’09 Anderson Family $24. Distinct Chardonnay nose; stone fruit, oak; balanced; good acids, flavor, finish.
- Fine 1er Cru Chablis 09 Bichot Long-Depaquit Les Vaucoupins. Deep Chardonnay nose, minerals, stone fruit; mid-body/acids; long rich finish. w/halibut
- Finely aging Sonoma Chardonnay ’08 Hanzell. Sharp mid-gold; honey, vanilla nose; stone fruit; balanced, lush, fine flavor/finish. w/sea bass
- Fine Russian River Valley Chardonnay ’11 Patz&Hall Zio Tony $50. Vanilla, French oak nose; apples, citrus; good acids, viscosity; crisp finish. w/clams
Gewurztraminer
- Spicy Calif. Gewurztraminer ’12 Gundlach Bundschu Estate $20. Fresh varietal nose; good acids, fruit; long finish. Spring sipping wine.
Sauvignon Blanc
- Balanced Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc ’12 Staete Landt $15. Herbaceous, grapefruit nose; mid-body, crisp edges, long fruity finish. w/clams
- Fruity Dry Creek Sauvignon Blanc ’12 Castlebank $11. Subdued varietal nose; light citrus; mid-body; soft acids, good flavor, finish. w/appetizers
