Anyway, here are the wines we sampled on this visit 1996 Cristom Pinot Noir Mt Jefferson Cuvee, Willamette Valley - Funky, rotting aromas at first, but blew off to reveal mellow red and black berries, leathery earth. 2001 Hafner Reserve Chardonnay, Alexander Valley - Great nose of vanilla and tropical fruit, pineapple, citrus too. MORE >>

Also, the vignerons poured not only their entry level wines, but their top wines, and this provided the opportunity to taste a $62 Cote Rotie without actually buying it, which is much appreciated if you are in my tax bracket and you want to sample the wares before investing. Definitely a $15 beauty. hauled my butt into Manhattan (!) MORE >>

Hafner Cabernet and Chardonnay are house wines at pop-in-law's. Part wine bar, part brasserie, part chic bar hangout, this place is definitely on our go-to list from now on. We sampled a nice Gruner Veltliner with the custard, a rosé from Provence with a classic salad of frisee with a poached egg and lardons. The nervy acidity? MORE >>

Could be our small sample, but this reiterated for me that France continues to make some of the finest under $15 wine in the world. This one, like all Cheverny, is actually a blend, with about 10% Chardonnay in the mix. It lacked the focus and definition that I found in the Loire wines, but it was very good, and I think a good value. MORE >>

This led to the 1991 formation of ZAP (Zinfandel Advocates and Producers) formed primarily by Croatian-born California winemaker Mike Grgich who made his bones in the US wine industry by winning the top white wine honor in the 1976 "Judgment of Paris" with his 1973 Chardonnay (it wasn't only red being judged). in most wine). Charles M. MORE >>