In case it should be called upon to work a party, an under-$10 Chardonnay should possess a little something for everyone, yet have enough character to be interesting one-on-one. Christopher Smith and Eric Aafedt report the fruit for Bogle California...

... it on a restaurant list when in the USA...

The Hedges ' crazy good fusion of Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay plus Marsanne catalyst is very versatile to say the least. Pete Hedges reports the composition of 2005 CMS White is 44% Chardonnay, 2% Marsanne, and 54% Sauvignon Blanc.  Vinification was all stainless steel.  Cases produced: 14,200. Tasting Notes : ...

2005 Chardonnay is classic Meridia n * - attractive but not overly complicated.  The label was painted by Patrick McFarlin , a Sante Fe painter who has also painted extensively in the California wine country.Tasting Notes . Color: Pale greenish straw. Aromas: Pear, lime/orange and hints of spice and butter.  ...

Merlot seems so out of fashion, yet here's the real deal, not to miss.  Pietra Santa translates to "sacred stone", which refers to the fact that the estate vineyard is dissected by the San Andreas fault, which results in a stony soil. The Cienega Valley is 25 miles east/northeast of ...

On the way to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally , we stopped at Applejack , and spotted this 2004 "Biker" Zin from the "West Side" of Paso Robles.  Big and deep, macho and dusty, and possessing plenty of rumble, this Zin fits its name. "Hedonist" Christian Tietje makes the "Biker" from ...

The story with Pinot Blanc is that it can make a refreshing, rainwater-clean white with tropical overtones.  Like this Valley of the Moon*, which has plenty of tropical character in a lean refreshing frame. Pinot Blanc is a genetic mutation of Pinot Grigio, which in turn is a mutation of ...

My first thought when I saw this new label was Johnny Cash's "I've Been Everywhere".  But what owner Jon Ruth meant to communicate was "casually and just for the pleasure".  The wine inside is a success viewed that way. Ramblin Red Cuvee One is 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Syrah, 22% ...

The distinctive label is actually a reproduction of a Nick Bantock collage.  Capolan is the name of a fictional tribe (council) of "good natured vagabonds", and apparently they represent Benham's search for the "sumptuous mysteries of Merlot".  This is definitely a good-natured Merlot, and yet another piece of evidence that ...

"Toast and oodles of jam" - This affordable "no-brainer" casual red from Cline * sings for a song.  Cooler weather and shorter days signal the switch back to red wine season, and Zinfandel is high on my list between now and Thanksgiving. The fruit for Cline Cellars Zinfandel 2005 was ...