To Dr. Shaqtus, Dr. Shamroq, here’s a glass of grower Champagne from Bereche et Fils, their Beaux Regards, a stony, zero-dosage all-chardonnay bubbly. A couple of weeks ago, a 7′ 1″ 325(+)-lb. graduate donned a cap and gown: Shaquille O’Neal earned a doctorate in education. Nice going Big Daddy!

tasted a few of them recently at a trade tasting and was impressed with the lean, taut wines from a land known all too often for buxom chardonnay and pinot noir. The wines of Tyler winery get a thumbs up from me for the brilliance of the name alone–but also for what’s inside the bottle. Rita Hills.) Tyler winery.

Chardonnay 2o11. This winery started in 1991 by Mr. Stagmari and they grow many different varietals that have won numerous awards, especially for Tannat. From the start the focus was on quality, beginning with limiting density in the vineyards (one meter by one meter). As you can see from the photo above the wines have won many awards.

Chardonnay 2011 (unoaked). Chardonnay is planted on top of small hill with excellent drainage (clay and calcareous) …. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay Blend 2007 (light rose). “My 82 year old granny lives here,” says dark haired Juan Andres Marichal, pointing to a simple, one  story house near the tiny family winery. Good with meat.

Chardonnay 2011 De La Familia  (six months on oak). "Welcome!" says attractive dark haired Federico Domingo, Export Manager for Bodegas Castillo Viejo as we squeeze into his tiny car. He is here to escort us to the winery and introduce us to the winemaker Alexander Etcheverry and his wines. Alexander joins his. Viognier 2011. El Preciado.

half sparkling wine and chardonnay makes for an easy drinking, refreshing wine with medium acidity and great balance. "What exciting wines!" is my first reaction to meeting Marcelo Irurtia, who is in charge of vineyard management for his family's 100 year old winery, and Maria Silvia Bianchi, who is in charge of exportation. naked viognier.

Chardonnay Reserva 2010. … so the first thing you notice as you drive to Bodegas Carrau near Montevideo is the gorgeous grounds and the stunning classic “Spanish Style” Hacienda with flowers all around. Javiar Carrau, an enologist and director of the family winery, greets me warmly and tells me a bit about the winery as we tour the property. 

Brut Natural Chardonnay Viognier 50/50. Chardonnay 2011. Topacio (late harvest) 201160 grams of residual sugar … very luscious late harvest wine made from chardonnay … half from fermented in barrels. The other is the must blended with the fermented Chardonnay from barrels.  "This is an incredible park!" Dried dark cherry. 

Chardonnay 2011. “What are those curious birds!” I can’t help but ask, as we tour the vineyard of Bodega Bouza in Uruguay. My guides are Eduardo Boido, winemaker and Cristina Santoro, who manages PR and communications. According to Cristina they have some sort of “weapon” or “claw” they show when a human approaches their nest. Albarino 2011.

The soil is here calcareous clay loam soil and the 15 hectares are planted with Tannat, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot in addition to Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. an absolutely fabulous visit to Pisano Wines today. The story started three centuries ago in Italy. His dream was to start a winery in Uruguay. I asked, amazed.

One is 90% Chardonnay and 10% Sauvignon Blanc and the other is a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The Chardonnay/SB blend is actually refreshing and delicious with a crisp refreshing finish. Pizzorno Sparkling Wine  90% chardonnay 10% Sauvignon Blanc. Pizzorno Reserve Sparkling  50/50 chardonnay and pinot Noir 2010.

The 2006 Colet-Navazos Reserva Extra Brut is a sparkling Chardonnay and at disgorgement the wine is topped up with Manzanilla - specifically La Bota Nº 22, if I am not mistaken. Not too long ago I had the pleasure of eating dinner at Fu Leen, the seafood restaurant in Manhattan's Chinatown. The idea behind wines like the Palmas is not new.

it is a special wine, as the grapes all come from the Grand Cru terrior of Crement, the grapes are all chardonnay (which has smaller more delicate bubbles than the red grapes or a blend) and is left to mature in the cellar for 2.5 It uses chardonnay (30 percent) pinot noir (45 percent) and pinot meunier and is toasty, rich, and sumptuous.

It felt in the mouth like Chardonnay to me, and I got something like iodine on the nose. My friend who brought the wine said that he finds that Austrian Riesling can show like Chardonnay when served in big bowl glasses. I love blind tasting. did this last year at about this time , and now again. began to think Chablis.

Domaine du CHARDONNAY. Fabulous two days of tasting at Diva Beaune, a small event in conjunction with the Grands Jours de Bourgogne where small producers as well as major names and brands poured wine. discovered many talented small producers here. Didier et Jean Louis AMIOT. Domaine Robert AMPEAU et Fils. Domaine Marquis D'ANGERVILLE.

2009 Peter Michael Chardonnay Ma Belle-Fille ( about $80 ) USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley. Sure enough, Eric posted the wines served, complete with tasting notes. For the full menu (pdf) , click here. And, on a related note, what Michelle Obama has done with the organic garden at the White House is terrific. Find it. Serve it.

My first chance to try the unsulfured Champagnes from David Leclapart’s 3 hectares f vines planted to 90% chardonnay. Nicolas Joly’s talk wasn’t the only thing packed on Monday; the tasting itself at Return to Terroir, NYC edition, was really crowded in the latter half. Comte Abbatucci: My new favorite wines from Corsica!

Curious that the Chardonnay Reserve 09 has natural acidity, even though it is med+. Very interesting seminar at the Symposium for Professional Wine Writers -- a "bean tasting" with various wines from Cakebread! It is based on Cakebread's American Harvest Workshop which features five innovative chefs and eight small purveyors.

But there’s one wine that customers won’t find here: Yellow Tail chardonnay. So if a sleek wine shop opened in the arcade under the new Goldman Sachs building, you’d expect it to have oversized bottles of first growths and Napa cabs, right? New York City wine shops

We begin by tasting the 2010 Chardonnay, which is barrel fermented in 100% French oak, 40% of it new. "Welcome," says Antoine Blech of Opia restaurant in Manhattan, welcoming Jean-Jacques Bonnie of Bodega DiamAndes and his contingent. Like many of the most prestigious brands in Argentina, the family is based in Bordeaux, France. Lagravière.

This wine is all Bouzy, a blend of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, but it reminded me of a wine I tasted a few years ago by Moutard that is made with the obscure grapes of Champagne, things like Arbanne and Petit Meslier. Oh no, my friends, I've been a very lucky Brooklynguy lately, in large part due to the generosity of friends.

Some preferred the very elegant Syrah with steak, others the Petite Syrah or Full-bodied Chardonnay with pasta. As a winemaker, Bob also make two whites, Two Angles Sauvignon Blanc and Angel's "Secret Carneros Chardonnay" -- a bright rich fruit forward style for both. also liked the Syrah and the 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Unlike Champagne and any other sparkling wine, the grapes used for Franciacorta include Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, and Pinot Nero (Pinot Noir). It rests on the lees for at least 24 months (mostly Chardonnay and Pinot Bianco with 15% Pinot Nero). “Welcome!” visitors. Emanuele makes Franciacorta, and only Franciacorta. Saten. Rose Brut.

The first time I tried this wine in 2009, this Chardonnay from the Ferragamo family's Tuscan vineyards, Il Borro had a pale yellow color. Notes - The Chardonnay grapes for ‘Lamelle’ are carefully selected from vineyards within the Il Borro Estate in San Giustino Val d’Arno in Arezzo. Finishes long but smoothly.

In the Cedars-Sinai study, 36 women were randomized to drink either Cabernet Sauvignon or Chardonnay daily for almost a month, then switched to the other type of wine. LOS ANGELES (Jan. women, new research from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center shows. White wine lacked the same effect. Switching may shift your risk.” Co-author Glenn D.

This bottle comes entirely from 2008 and is a blend of equal parts Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Well, of the last few months anyway. There have been a few truly memorable drinks and eatsin the past months that I never found a way to write about here. So I'll compile them in a best-of-the-unposted list from the last part of 2011.

At Le Bernadine last week, sommelier Aldo Somm (who won best sommelier in the world competition and is always winning new ones) introduced me to two new champagnes, Phippe Gonet 3210 -- very clever title as it means 3 years of aging, 2 terroirs, 1 grape (chardonnay) and zero dossage. Varietals: Chardonnay. LOVED this champagne.

Even if a wine is all Chardonnay -- a Blanc de Blanc -- it is still made up of different vineyards, each prized for a specific trait such as high acidity, minerality, fruitiness. Pierre Casenave, who is pictured above teaching and below tasting wine at the center of the table, led the tutored tasting of the base wine. pierre casenave

Les Rachans is based on chardonnay grown on limestone silliceux - we taste the '06 and picked on "fruit day " and bottled on "fruit day. We try the Grand cru Mailly champagne (90% pinot noir, 10% chardonnay) 2008 extra brut - it has an aroma of vanilla with a touch of honey and vanilla, as well as its no dossage counterpart.

In May of 2009 I reviewed a Chardonnay from California that I named as the best Chardonnay I have ever tasted, a Clos Du Bois Calcaire. Since then I have treated myself to some very nice red wines from that same winery. Most notably the blended Marlstone and Briarstone Cabernet Sauvignon. They are water-conscious too.

Now owned by Anthony Russell (son of the founder) and producing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The wines produced here are Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc, all very balanced, elegant, and Burgundian as you can imagine. He offers three handcrafted wines – sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, and a syrah based blend called ‘Serenity.’

You will find many varietals at Waterkloof – Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Mouvedre, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, all very balanced and perfectly delicious! “Dazzling!”. At Waterkloof, the excitement begins as soon as you see this modern, gorgeously high-tech winery from the roadside and drive up the Schaapenberg hillside.

Since we had tasted a Coenobium Rusticum previously, I decided to go with a wine from the Jura–the Montbourgeau 2008 L’Etoile Chardonnay ($20). This isn’t your mother’s chardonnay–this is an oxidative chardonnay that spends two years in barrel. “Will you wear a wool hat?,” wine picks

also really liked the Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. If you’ve been reading headlines in glossy food, wine, and travel magazines around the world, you’ve heard that South Africa is now the coolest wine tourism spot in the world. It has just won best of Wine Tourism this year for South Africa. Fabulous visit! link]. News S.

Here the family has 45 hectares of vines including Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Grenache, and Pinot Noir. Ginny, a friendly dog with a rhythmically wagging tale, greets us as we enter the sleek glass doors of the Thelema winery situated on the top of the Helshoogte Pass about six kilometers outside of Stellenbosch. Welcome!” News S.

Africa and daughter of Warwick founder Stan Radcliffe, is the force behind the famous Bordeaux blend, Trilogy, popularized Cabernet Franc, and was instrumental in launchng the Pinotage society so it is natural that these wines are consistent award winners (though there are other award winning red blends, and Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc as well).

They even have a Kosher range (sparkling brut, Chardonnay, Pinotage, Merlot). Arco Laamar & Harry Haddon (checked shirt). Two wineries being neighborly!”. Glen Carlou and Backsberg are neighboring wineries in Paarl who kindly hosted me for a tasting of both wines, then lunch at Backsberg’s lovely al fresco restaurant. Glen Carlou Website.

Yet before all that we taste the wines of DeMorgenzon, which in addition to the Syrah include a Chenin Blanc (from the original old vines of the estate), Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. Winemaker Carl Van der Merwe. This Syrah is absolutely incredible!”. Perhaps from a famous winemaker like Guigal or Chapoutier in the Northern Rhone. News S.

But, then again, maybe an influx of foreign capital would plant it all to Chardonnay. Although markets have rallied this week, the collapse of the euro is the topic du jour. Mike Steinberger talked with some players in European wine and found that none had a particular plan for handling a collapse. wine with the next vintage. Probably not.

The domaine covers around 15 hectares; of which 40% of the vines are red Pinot Noir and the rest mostly Chardonnay. La Maltroye. Winemaker and Chateau de la Maltroye owner Jean-Pierre Cournet has the exotic look of a jet-set film star as opens the door and greets us in his gorgeous 18th century Chateau in Chassagne-Montrachet.

It all started in the eighties, when Nicholas Catena (whose family had been making wine for generations) imported consultant Paul Hobbs to come to Argentina and create world class Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. Like Malbec? The press loved the quality old vine Malbec, and voila! The multi-milliion industry Malbec is today.

The collection included sparklers, chardonnay, pinot noir, and a cabernet sauvignon, all named with numbers that had key significance for Jean-Charles. For example, the JCB No. 7, my favorite Pinot Noir from the Sonoma Coast, was named for the moment he had his first taste of wine. News Anthony Dias Blue baccarrat jean-charles boisset

Craggy Range Chardonnay 2010. News Wine reviews craggy range chardonnay 2010 craggy range sauvignon blanc 2010 kit's killer cab 2008 terrezas de los anges reserva malbec 2009 the climber 2010Some excellent wines this week, an assortment of reds and whites from around the globe. Terrezas de los Andes. Reserva Malbec 2009. 21.99. 21.99.

Now the California wine conversation was interesting, because we were just served two wines, a Merryvale Chardonnay 2008 and a Domaine Roumieu Bonnes Mares 2000. so now we are having beer (!) Of the 20 students, five of us (all women) are MW students, with the rest being sommeliers.

Our chardonnay was picked on the 14th after the early October rains that lasted four days. Harvest is progressing nicely, if slowly, here in Napa Valley. Our 2011 St. Helena Sauvignon Blanc is all barreled down and aging nicely. The riper fruit that we fermented separately in a steel tank is now barreled and beginning malolactic fermentation.

The winery produces four pinot noirs and two chardonnays; all bear the term “California Grand Cru” for the 2009 vintage. New for the 2009 vintage: Sea Smoke of Santa Barbara is putting “California Grand Cru” on the label. The term is pure marketing. The labels previously read “Santa Barbara County California.”

Gilgal Brut is made from a blend of 50% Chardonnay and 50% Pinot Noir grown in the cool climate of the Golan Heights. Very cool idea -- Israreli sparkling wine! Produced in the classic Champagne method, it is aged for a minimum of one year in the bottle on the tirage yeast. ancient giants were believed to have built the concentric circles!).

recently had a chance to sample a few along with a Chardonnay, Reisling and a Pinot Noir. Marlborough, New Zealand's South Island seems to have a handle on Sauvignon Blanc. Sarah is one of three winemakers at Cloudy Bay (teamed with Tim Heath and Nick Lane) in Blenheim, Marlborough, New Zealand. No traffic lights, no people and 1 coffee shop.”

Unlike the grapes of Champagne, the primary grapes for Franciacorta is Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier. Very excited to visit Brescia, Italy for the wine blogger's conference! have been reading a lot about Bellavista and hope to visit the winery. Vintage Franciacorta must spend a minimum of 30 months on the lees.

So a great presentation today by Marnie Old, who gave a talk for Wines from Spain "Great Match" at the Metropolitan Pavillion about Cava. Marnie is a fabulous presenter whose enthusiasm for Cava came out loud and clear. The tasting room on the 4th floor of the Metropolitan Pavillion was beautifully set-up with well chosen wines.

Jean-Claude Boisset Bourgogne Chardonnay 2005 Cork. Jean-Claude Boisset Bourgogne Chardonnay 2005 Screw Cap. Michel Laroche of Domaine LaRoche. So what is it about the 'cork vs. screwcap' controversy that is so fascinating? Right now, it is a heated subject in the trade with different closure methods introduced all the time. RED WINES.

The nose was limestone and chalk and minty ripe Chardonnay fruit, and that's simplifying it for the purpose of using words. I drank a white wine by Domaine des Comtes Lafon the other night the first time I have ever done so. Comtes Lafon is one of the iconic domaines in Burgundy. Why have I never tried a Comtes Lafon white, until now?

Pablo Morande first planted vines in Casablanca Chile in 1982 where he introduced Chardonnay, Riesling and in 1986 the first Sauvignon Blanc. He did this in a time and place where no one would have believed he would succeed. But Pablo saw the similarities to Carneros California, and took the calculated risk. The rest is history. alcohol.

runner-up would certainly be the Terres Dorées Beaujolais Blanc, a Chardonnay, also from 2010 (above, left). The wine is a perennial better value, but the 2010 exhibits a value chardonnay in its minerally, unadorned form that is stunning. What’s the best white wine currently in the US market for about $15? The 2010 is electric.

liked the 2009 Chardonnay , which is from Hawkes Bay. New Zealand News Winemaking Yeast chardonnay cognanc one new zealand sauvignon blanc syrah te awaI recently tried new signle estate wines from TeAwa from New Zealand, which just joined Cognanc One's National portfolio. Once pressed, the juice is settled before being run to barrels.

It is planted with a majority of Malbec and some Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Petit Verdot as well as Chardonnay and Viognier that will be used for futurewines. liked the Chardonnay and Viognier as well, with the Viognier being a style similiar to what one might find in the Southern Rhone, rich and ripe with restrained fruit.

Now interestingly, the scallops also pair well with the Cupcake Chardonnay and Cupcake Sauvignon Blanc, two of my favorite wines. yet at the same time I really liked the rich, full-bodied Chardonnay with the scallops. "So this Prosecco actually tastes like a cupcake!" A bite-sized bit of fun. ". And he's right on another level.

The McGregor family established their winery in 1980 and began producing Chardonnay, Riesling, Gewürztraminer and Pinot Noir that year. Today, the thriving McGregor Vineyard includes Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Chardonnay, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Muscat Ottonel, Cayuga White, and Vignoles.

Mark was smiling widely tasting both the Dr. Frank and the Salmon Run Chardonnay while I could just not believe the 2008 Dr. Konstantin Frank Meritage. We all shared a Calabrese Wrap, a roasted Portabella Panini and a white Pizza with a glass of classic Chardonnay for Mark and a semi-dry Riesling for me. at least for now).

News 009 Jacob's Creek Reserve Pinot Noir from the Adelaide Hills and finally jacob's creek their 2008 Jacob's Creek Reserve Barossa Shiraz 2008 their 2009 Jacob's Creek Reserve Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon their Jacob's Creek Reserve Adelaide Hills Chardonnay 2009. their Jacob's Creek Reserve Barossa Dry Riesling 2010

La Haute-Lemblé is Chardonnay from a warm south facing vineyard. Cédric Bouchard is one of the leaders of the new wave in Champagne. He comes from a Champagne family - his father is an old school grower, but Cédric does things differently. The wines go through a natural malolactic and are racked only once, just before bottling.".

Our patch of chardonnay just off Old Sonoma Road in Carneros is purring along. Just thinking about the chardonnay these beautiful old vines produce makes my mouth water. 2009 Stags' Leap Winery Napa Valley Chardonnay ** Tangy and citrusy at first with apple and wood smoke notes as well. We are currently estimating about 2-2.5

It is a chardonnay-based sparkler from Franciacorta, and actually from Ca' del Bosco. Michael Broadbent of Christie's auction house recently reviewed the wine in Decanter, praising the Brut 2007 (100% Chardonnay) and calling it very pale, fragrant, with good acidity and a spicy finish. One, you are told, is from Champagne. But no!

What can you say about an excellently turned out Chardonnay? Which brings me back to the Chardonnay. Similar steps are taken to the Chardonnay, save that the berries received a slight "cold soak/semi-maceration took place for 3- 5 days, and pumping over, and manual trampling of the cap during fermentation.

We are actually at Daniel Boulud's DB Bistro on a sunny June day, and Michael is here to talk about the winery's excellent Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. taste three vintages of Chardonnay (09, 08, 07) and am struck by the Meursault character of the 07 - it is very Burgundian with melted butter on the nose, and incredible elegance.

Clairette and Ugni blanc have become the dominate grape varieties with some smaller plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Mouvedre and Syrah. Wine from Algeria! Who would'a thunk. Ok, for some reason I may have missed this in Geography class. When I think of Algeria, I think of desert, sand, sun and boiling hot! and 2nd Ave.

The 2009 Russian River Valley Chardonnay was very Meursault-like with its aroma of melted butter, a touch of sweet oak, and very textured mouthfeel. Jim Collins. As you may know, coastal regions in California are considered 'cool climate,' and 'cool climate' wines are premium quality. Salute!

The lanky, California maker of pinot noir, chardonnay, and syrah told me at his Sonoma winery that he had his conversion in 2005, after returning from a trip to Burgundy and the Rhone. Saul had his conversion on the road to Damascus. Wells Guthrie had his conversion on the road home from Burgundy. Thus he decided to change his style.

Wine director Daniel Johnnes (pictured above, right) tweeted that the wine selections would include Sandhi Chardonnay made by his friend sommelier Raj Parr. SIPPED/NOT SIPPED: Presidential wine. President Obama dined at restaurant Daniel in NYC last night. He tweeted: “Sandhi means alliance. What could be better?&# SIPPED: bigg eurozzz.

What can you say about an excellently turned out Chardonnay? Which brings me back to the Chardonnay. Similar steps are taken to the Chardonnay, save that the berries received a slight "cold soak/semi-maceration took place for 3- 5 days, and pumping over, and manual trampling of the cap during fermentation.

While it is nice to be able to taste every wine from every producer, it is a better educational experience to just focus on one or two varietals, which means in Chile a Sauvignon Blanc (SB) or Chardonnay (Chard). also tried the Chardonnays, which came in different forms yet uniformly saw some oak treatment.

We are actually at Daniel Boulud's DB Bistro on a sunny June day, and Michael is here to talk about the winery's excellent Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. taste three vintages of Chardonnay (09, 08, 07) and am struck by the Meursault character of the 07 - it is very Burgundian with melted butter on the nose, and incredible elegance.

Our tasting begins with “The Postmistress” Blanc de Blanc, a sparkling wine made from 100% Chardonnay. Then we have “Morse Code Chardonnay,” a barely oaked style that is clean and linear. Australia News henry's drive morse code chardonnay padthway piller box shirazIs it true the postman always rings twice?

2009 Wyndham Estate Chardonnay Bin 222. Vidal-Fleury Coes du Rhone 2010 Rose. Style note: A bright cheerful rose that personifies summer with its gorgeous color, uplifting floral fragrance of ripe berry fruit and flowers, and long finish with a pleasant nectarine pit kick. Great with salads and fish. Balance and texture quite delicious.

But I do want to share a little bit: 1994 Stony Hill Napa Valley Chardonnay , price unknown. Stony Hill has for decades been making Napa Chardonnay that pleases the old world palate, and the wines are affordable. This is the oldest vintage of Stony Hill that I've had, and this was a brilliant bottle. Is this even made from grapes?

Chardonnay is barrel fermented and the reds undergo extended masceration periods (25 - 35 days) to allow for a more natural balance of fruit and tannins, then pumped over at least twice a day. So you know all about the e-auction that opens May 29, 2011 in alignment with the Auction Napa Valley 2011, yes? The critics love the wines. Padrone.

Director's Cut 2009 Russian River Valley Chardonnay. Wine reviews 2009 francis coppola diamond collection 2009 claret 2009 francis coppola votre sante pinot noir black swan 2010 south eastern australian moscato director's cut 2008 cinema director's cut 2009 russian river valley chardonnayDirector's Cut 2008 Cinema. Pair with salads.

couple of years ago I came up with something that worked pretty well, the Crémant du Jura by Montbourgeau, a sparkling Chardonnay. Common wisdom holds that it's very difficult to pair wine with asparagus. I'm not sure why this is so. Some wines work better than others, but this quest for perfection is kind of silly, I think.

Have you tried a Greek wine recently|? The news is that Greece is offering incredibly well made wines, very dry, citrus-oriented, and delicius with food. In New York last week, Steve Olson and Doug Frost MW / MS led a talk introducing various varieties, pairing them with Greek cuisine. News all about greek wines. doug frost steve olson

The Cigalus (mostly Chardonnay with some Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier) was light and refreshing, and the 100% Chardonnay Aigle Royal from Limoux was full bodied, rich, yet lifted. Does the above picture effectively showcase the "dream" of Southern France? That blue sky, with the white puffs of clouds, is real. almost dainty.

From Argentina, I liked DeMartino Legada Reserve White 2009 (Limari) which is primarily Chardonnay on clay and limestone soil. We tasted many examples today. lots of Torrantes from different producers. really liked Chilean Valle de la Puerta la Puerta 2010 from La Rioja -- very elegant with juicy citrus and a touch of tangerine.

Santa Julia Brut Rose NV ($13) was paired with cervice, and the Organic Chardonnay ($11) with the first course salad. Landmark chefs David Nichols (striped apron) and Marc Murphy flank. Julia Zuccardi & Zuccardi family winery chef Ana Rodriguez. Santa Julia offers a more approachable, ready to drink wine.

Recently I had the opportunity to attend a tweet up led by Rodolphe Boulanger showcasing Chardonnay from the area. While Chardonnay is definitely a minority in the region, this Beaujolais Blanc is unoaked, ripe, and has a delightfully round texture.he Beaujolais Chardonnay, Terres Dorées, Brun Beaujolais 2009.

2008 Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Chardonnay. Style Note: Very well balanced California Chardonnay with very balanced fruit, acid, tannin, and just enough oak to make it delicious and substantial enough to pair with fish prepared in many different ways. Bodegas Roda Reserva 2006. color: medium + intensity/opaque with garnet miniscus.

The white grapes are Chardonnay and the local white grape Savagnin. Above are the wines from Stephene Tissot, who showed me how different Chardonnay can taste when it is grown on limestone vs. clay soil. Very excited to visit the Astor center today, and taste my favorite wines from 23 growers from the Jura! News jura stephane Tissot

It's a white wine from somewhere in the Roussillon; 50% Muscat, 30% Chardonnay, and 20% Macabeu, for you Macabeu fans and I know you're out there. Two friends came over for dinner the other night. don't aspire to drink geeky wine, and I'm not saying that geeky wine is by definition good wine - that would be absurd. And I loved it. Me neither.

There are wines made from Chardonnay, Melon-Queue-Rouge , and Savagnin, and there are ouille (topped up) and sous-voile (oxidized) styles. This is Chardonnay from vines of over 100 years old. I was lucky to attend a dinner recently at which Levi Dalton poured a large selection of Jean-François Ganevat's wines. And indeed it was.

Xarrel-Lo and Chardonnay are becoming a popular blend in Catalunya. Penin seminar. What a fabulous event today at the Puck building. Many journalists and members of the trade gathered to meet producers featured in the 2011 Peñín Guide. barrel fermented and quite good, yet unsure who could identify this in a blind tasting.

Sure, your average Chardonnay goes south within a few days of opening, but Vinsanto can last for weeks after being opened, as long as it is refrigerated. Wines from Santorini. Today the Wines of Santorini hosted a fabulous seminar, with the tasting guided by Dr. Yiannis Paraskevopoulos o of GAIA wines, one of Greece’s top oenologistss.

It is almost a Blanc de Noirs - 57% Meunier, 38% Pinot, and 5% Chardonnay. My favorite so far is the exquisite 2004 Quinte Essence Brut, made of 60% Pinot, 25% Meunier, and 15% Chardonnay from vineyards in Belval-sous-Châtillon (if I understood correctly). Isabelle and Franck Pascal, and their name tags. That's right.3 cases.

When RN74 opened a couple of years ago, Parr drew attention by saying that he wouldn’t carry pinot noirs or chardonnays over 14% alcohol. Raj Parr is the wine director at Michael Mina’s restaurants and a partner at RN74, a Burgundy-centered restaurant in San Francisco. Ta-dah! So, what to make of this? Sure Parr got punk’d.

The morning began with an introduction by vivacious Master Sommelier Evan Goldsmith -- and then a tasting of both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from his collection of site-specific bottlings from Sonoma and Mendocino counties ($30-$60 SRP). News california chardonnay evan goldsmith greg la follette pinot noirscallops.

Andi Kollwentz presented two whites (Sauvignon Blanc and a Chardonnay) and three reds, with my favorite red being a mix of Cabernet Sauvignon, Blaufrankisch, and Zweigelt. At City Winery in New York today Andi Kollwentz and Rainer Wess led a fabulous presentation titled: The Wachau and the Leitha: A Tale of Two Mountain Ranges.

White wine varietals that are receptive to oak’s influence include: Pinot Grigio, Pinot Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and of course Chardonnay. Just grab a bottle of well-oaked Chardonnay and an “unoaked” Chardonnay (typically labeled as “unoaked” or “naked” Chardonnay) and do a side-by-side taste test. Why Oak Wine?

Instead of a Chardonnay, a Pinot Grigo from Alto Adige would be perfect. "You need a valet!" " remarked a trio of friends from Manhattan's Wine Media Guild on a very cloudy and rainy March 10th, as I stepped into the Metropolitan space on 18th street. Such is the trade-off for sunny Los Angeles.

Actually, the word 'cool' is clever as it describes two clear facts about this Chardonnay: it is cool climate (read Burgundian cool) and the idea of a Canadian Chardonnay is, well, cool. wine press is located to repeat the tasting to demonstrate the success Canada has with cool climate Chardonnays. Cave Spring Cellars CSV 2007.

Also tasted Kongsgaard 2008 Napa Valley Chardonnay * nectar of the gods. Dark garnet. Pine, cedar, woodsy notes on the nose, with mild brine that comes through on the tongue. Light on the palate, with tart strawberry and orange tang on the finish. Ribald passion fruit, sweat, chunky mid palate.

The Conservancy collection includes Pitite Sirah, Merlot, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. Last year I reviewed a 2007 Petite Sirah from Concannon Vineyard , so I was delighted to recently receive the 2008 vintage. In 1996, Concannon was the first Livermore Valley vineyard to place its land into a permanent conservation easement.

They make one wine and one wine only, a vintage Brut Blanc de Blancs made entirely of Le Mesnil Chardonnay. My final visit of the Champagne trip was also one of the grandest, a visit to Champagne Salon. Most of it was replanted in 2003 and none of the grapes have been used in Salon vintages since then. And they don't make it very often.

The next morning I thought of this again with Vincent Laval in the cellars at Champagne Georges Laval, as Vincent told us about the conditions in Les Chênes and Les Hautes-Chèvres, the vineyards that produce his single-vineyard Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Champagne houses, in general, followed a different path. If it is, in fact, a trend.