Beverage Dynamics is the largest national business magazine devoted exclusively to the needs of off-premise beverage alcohol retailers, from single liquor stores to big box chains, through coverage of the latest trends in wine, beer and spirits.
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/116557
(California). Sourcing primarily from the famed Dutton Ranch, this wine offers up hints of orange blossoms, honey and lemon curd on the nose, with bright acid and oak and vanilla on its rich, long finish. ($33) ##### (93) Fritz Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2010 (California). Nice bright acidity, yet creamy on the palate; ripe flavors of tropical fruits; pineapples, mangoes and melons; layers of baked pastries and toasted nuts make this truly interesting. ($30) ##### (93) VGS/Chat.Potelle Napa Chardonnay 2010 (California). Beautiful collaboration of classical French techniques blended with rich hillside mountain fruit; natural yeasts, unfiltered, minimal oak aging create a rich opulent wine; initial hints of green apple and lemon lead to deeper flavors of melons, pineapples and white pears. ($58) ##### (93) Silver Stag Napa Chardonnay 2010 (California). Beautiful jasmine aromas lead into hints of apple, melon, lemon, and caramel; rich and full-bodied; the inaugural chardonnay release from the Parsley Family Winery. ($57) ##### (92) Peter Paul Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2010 (California). Bright, fresh and clean, with half of the wine made in stainless R ATING S YSTEM ##### FIVE STARS (92-100) A topflight wine. Superior in taste and character and providing an outstanding price/value relationship. #### FOUR STARS (86-91) A very good wine and an excellent value. A wine for which customers will keep coming back. ### THREE STARS (80-85) An aboveaverage wine, at a reasonable price point, which many customers will enjoy. ## TWO STARS (70-79) An average wine. # ONE STAR (50-69) A below-average wine. steel and the rest neutral oak; not the big over-the-top butter bomb, but a more driven wine; clean and unencumbered. ($28) ##### (92) Morgan Metallico Monterey Chardonnay 2011 (California). Pure chardonnay; no oak, no malolactic; fresh, vibrant, with beautiful bright color, it offers lush nectarine and white pear fruit; clean and crisp with a surprising long finish. ($32) ##### (92) Molnar Family Chardonnay 2010 (California). Wonderful aromas of pear, citrus and tangerine with a vanilla scent; soft on the palate with lively tones of apples and citrus, it finishes with a warm toasty finish; the Hungarian oak gives this wine a unique flavor. ($27) ##### (92) ZD California Chardonnay 2010 (California). Tropical aroma; tropical fruit; vanilla and butterscotch taste; long finish. ($39) ##### (92) Christian Moreau 2011 Chablis 2011 (France). A quintessential Chablis with a pale golden color that sparkles in the glass; notes of apple and stone fruit reverberate across the nose and palate; the bright acidity adds a nervous energy to the finish; with that same acidity promising a long life in the bottle. ($24) ##### (92) Sbragia Home Ranch Dry Creek Valley Chardonnay 2009 (California). Sbragia is known for its excellent Chardonnays, and this lovely wine shows Dry Creek Valley as an outstanding producer of a full-throttle chard that maintains freshness without overbearing lumber; pair it with salmon and enjoy. ($45) ##### (92) Fox Run Vineyard Chardonnay 2011 (California). Earthy nose upon opening, buttery and fruity balance; strong lemon appeal; pleasant citrus aftertone; an unoaked option for nontraditional Chardonnay drinkers. ($14) ##### (92) The Calling Russian River Valley Dutton Ranch Chardonnay 2010 (California). A subtle but complex in the nose, with lovely and bright fruit aromas and supple oak shadings; citrus, pear, apple and melon all appear; equally complex on the palate, lush and beautifully balanced, with a delicious array of fruit flavors deftly tinted by vanillin, oak and cream. ($30) ##### (92) En Truffiere Meursault 2009 (France). Classy Burgundy that maintains impeccable balance throughout; floral and citrus notes mingle in the bouquet and on the palate, and a firm mineral structure amplifies everything beautifully; fresh, and long on the finish. ($40) ##### (92) Woodward Canyon Chardonnay 2011 (Washington State). The wine is a brilliant yellow gold; the nose is an elegant combination of apple and pear, with hints of spice, vanilla, and toasted nuts; the palate is just as elegant, with a long luxurious finish. ($36) ##### (92) Sonoma Cutrer Les Pierres Chardonnay 2010 (California). Rich yet lively; hard to believe it's barrel fermented given its fresh character; lush tropical fruit with pineapple-lifesaver finish. ($45) ##### (92) Ferrari Carano Sonoma Chardonnay 2011 (California). There are aromas of butter, caramel and a very slight smokiness which add complexity to this incredibly smooth and satisfying chardonnay; the beautiful layers of fruit and texture are satisfying and controlled. ($21) ##### (92) Hanna Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2011 (California). Pale straw yellow, in the glass; the nose and palate both showcase the abundance of peach, pear, with citrus, and herbal notes; good acidity balances the weight and texture of the palate, with the combination highlighting the long and balanced finish. ($20) Beverage Dynamics • www.beveragedynamics.com • March/April 2013 • 71