Mark West Chardonnay 2009 Central Coast Appellation

Appearance: The wine is bright showing a pale yellow color reflecting greenish highlights.

Nose: Light intensity of tropical fruit (pinapple and melon)

Palate: Dry, medium body with medium(+) mouth-watering acidity. There is a light(-)/weak intensity of lemon and pineapple fruit flavors. There is no indication of an alcohol burn on the back palate.(13.5%ABV).

Finish/Length: There is a clean refreshing finish but short in length. There seems to be a very slight lingering creaminess.

Conclusion: This a pleasant wine of good(-) quality due its balance but loses some due to the weakness of its fruit intensity. It is a pefect quaffing wine. The retail price is about US$14.00.

Producer Notes: Our 2009 shows aromas of lemon meringue, ripe pears and the amazing minerality note of the first rain on stones. Barrel aging contributes a brown sugar component on the nose. Our medium-bodied wine enjoys flavors of honeydew melon, lemon curd, and a cream layer reminiscent of a 50/50 ice cream bar.

Oyster Bay Chardonnay 2009 Marlborough, New Zealand

Appearance: Bright pale hay/straw color showing slight legs/tears on the sides of the glass indicating medium level of viscosity.

Nose: Medium intensity of melon and tangerine along with a fresh yeastiness. After the glass was empty there were aromas of medium intensity of guava, melon and tropical fruit.

Palate: Dry, full-bodied with medium(+) mouth-watering acidity along with a medium(+) intensity of citrus and a hint of pineapple fruit flavors. There is no indication of alcohol burn on the back palate.(13.0%ABV)

Finish/Length:The wine finishes clean with a medium(-) length showing citrus and unripe pineapple.

Conclusion: This a a good quality wine due to its balance of all its components along with its medium length. The retail price is about US$15.00 and seems to provide a good value price ratio.

Producer Notes: Oyster Bay Marlborough Chardonnay truly captures the character of Marlborough with pure, incisive, ripe fruit flavors. A combination of barrel and tank fermentation and the stirring of the lees on oak, achieves maximum softness and integration. To retain all the natural assertiveness and flavor, no malolactic fermentation takes place. Clonal influences in the vineyard have been very important, providing smaller berries and enhanced flavor intensity. The result of all of this is a delicious Oyster Bay Malborough Chardonnay with concentrated aromas and flavors of rip citrus and stone fruit, balanced with subtle oak, and creamy texture to finish.

Joel Gott Pinot Noir 2009 (Anderson Valley)

Appearance: Medium garnet core moving to a medium(+) dark pink rim about 1/4". The wine is transparent and moderately bright.

Nose: Medium(+) intensity of elusive/indistinct aromas that could be raspberry, black cherry and prune along with a hint of smoke and vanilla. There is a "brambly" texture to the aroma.

Palate: Dry, medium(-) tannins that have a grainy texture. The acidity is medium(-) with a light intensity of red cherry fruit. There was a burning on the sides on my tongue which occurred each of the three times I sampled the wine. It was almost like an alcohol burn which I felt on my back palate after swallowing the wine. (13.9%ABV).

Finish/Length: The finish was clean with a short length that only left a very slight hint of smoke along with the tannins (both being short in duration). The alcohol burn also was part of the length because it remained after I swallowed the wine.

Conclusion: This wine seems to be of poor quality primarily due to it lack of balance especially the burn on the tongue, lack of fruit and grainy tannins on the palate along with the short length. Selling for a retail price of US$19.99 I do not believe the wine is a good value.

Producer Notes: The Joel Gott Anderson Valley Pinot Noir has beautiful strawberry and cherry aromas with spicy notes of clove, cinnamon, vanilla, and earth. The palate is vibrant yet delicate with balanced acidity. In classic Anderson Valley Pinot Noir style, the finish is elegant with silky, integrated tannins.

Avalon Merlot Napa Valley 2009

Appearance: The wine is bright in the glass, reflecting light, with a deep, almost opaque cherry color with some blueish highlights moving to a narrow dark pink rim.

Nose: Light intensity of black cherry with very vague hints of vanilla and mint.

Palate: The wine is dry, light(+) body with medium(+) fine grained tannins and a medium level of mouth-watering acidity. No indication of alcohol burn (13.8%ABV). The flavors are light intensity of cherry (very slight).

Finish/Length: The finish is clean and the length is short displaying only a very fleeting hint of cherry that is almost green(unripe) in character.

Conclusion: This wine seems to be in balance, considering that all the components are light/thin in character and there is no indication of an alcohol burn. There is little complexity. I anticipated the Napa Valley fruit would offer more ripeness in the fruit flavors but maybe the grapes were picked early or were not able to ripen. This wine is ready to drink now and over the next 6 months because I do not believe the components have enough substance to for aging. The retail price is US$12.99 which, I think, place it at the high end of the price to value level.

Producer Notes: Our 2009 Merlot shows its depth with rich garnet color. Aromas of juicy boysenberries and cherry pie fill the glass. Creme brulee and brown sugar notes from oak aging complement the ripe berry aromas. Mountain fruit characteristics show in the intensity of the fruit flavors. The entry enjoys sweet berry notes of raspberry and cherry with a finish of jammy boysenberry preserves. The oak notes of chocolate and wood smoke pair with and complement the rich fruit layers. Refined tannins support this balanced wine that doesn't show the typical alcohol component found in many Merlots. As the wine develops in the glass, one may enjoy ongoing berry notes, a touch of allspice evolving in the middle, while the wine continues to lengthen on the finish. Smooth, silky and profound berry flavors confirm this wine's birthplace as Napa Valley.

Callie Alta Malbec 2009 (Valle de Tulum - San Juan)

Appearance: Medium(++) garnet core moving to a narrow(+) rim. There is some transparency when viewed from above.

Nose: Pronounced plums, cherries and elusive ripe black fruits with hints of vanilla and black licorice.

Palate: Dry, medium(+) body and medium(+) mouth-watering acidity. There is a medium(++) level of youthful tannins that have a grainy texture. There also seems to be a pleasant "tartness". There is a pronounced intensity of red fruit with indications of blueberry and blackberry. There is no indication of alcohol burn (13.8%ABV).

Finish/Length: The finish is clean with a medium(--) length with hints of blueberry and elusive red fruit.

Conclusion: The is a moderately balanced Malbec that offers enough for the US$10.00 that makes it a value proposition. Perfect for informal meals of pasta, bbq, etc.

Producer Notes: Deep and attractive purple wine. Its dominant notes are spices and wildberries. Good structure, fresh and elegant mouth-feel, with a long and intense finish.

Domaine R. Dubois et Fils "Les Vieilles Vignes" Pouilly-Fuissé 2008

Appearance: Clear, bright pale gold color consistent to the rim.

Nose: Medium(+) intensity of citrus, nectarine and and elusive melange of tropical fruit. There might be a hint of fig.

Palate: Dry, medium(++) body with medium(++) mouth-watering acidity. The flavors are medium (+) intensity with citrus (lemon) being the most pronounced flavor. There is no indication of alcohol burn (13%ABV).

Finish/Length: The finish is clean with a medium(+) length of citrus that is primarily lemon (almost like unsweetened lemonade.

Conclusion: This is a fresh and clean Chardonnay that seems to have not have any contact with oak. If there was oak contact, my guess would be neutral oak barrels. The retail price is about US$16.00 making this a fair value.

Producer Notes: None found