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/282869
www.beveragedynamics.com March/April 2014 • Beverage Dynamics 63 +++++ Five Stars (92-100) A top- flight 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 above-average 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. RATING SYSTEM WINE SELECTIONS R E T A I L E R FIVE STARS +++++ (97) Scott Family Estate Arroyo Secco Chardonnay 2012 (California). All estate grown fruit from Arroyo Secco area in the Monterey AVA; intense, rich, concentrated viscous fruit; Dijon clones offer fresh notes of vanilla, pear and orange zest; butterscotch fl a- vors at the fi nish after waves of tropical fruit; great long lingering fi nish; over-delivers for the money. ($36) +++++ (97) Frank Family Vineyards Char- donnay 2012 (California). Classic new-world style; fruit forward, rich creaminess, long fi nish; very balanced; Carneros fruit over-delivers; fl o- ral notes of honeysuckle and fresh bread dough; tropical fruit fl avors dominate. ($48) +++++ (95) Alexander Valley Vineyards Sonoma Chardonnay 2012 (California). Estate grown, night harvested; interesting approach to blending stainless steel with no malolactic fruit with whole cluster fruit, aged in French oak The Beverage Dynamics National Retailer Wine Panel recommends a lineup of top quality/value chardonnays. FOR THIS ISSUE, we asked members of the Beverage Dynamics National Retailer Wine Panel to recommend some of their favorite chardonnays. As always, these selections include brief tasting notes, a rating and the wine's retail price (which varies from store to store and market to market). If you're a retail beverage professional who would like to learn about participating in our panel, call Richard Brandes at 212-353-3832, or email him at rbrandes@specialtyim.com. with malolactic fermentation; rich mouth feel, very balanced, good acidity; toasted oak, rich butterscotch and tropical fruit fl avors blend har- moniously. ($40) +++++ (94) Robert Mondavi Carneros Napa Valley Chardonnay Reserve 2011 (Cali- fornia). A rich, yellow gold in the glass, showing its weight and viscosity; the nose is full of ripe tree fruits, with hints of toast and oak; rich and full, with balancing acidity, and a long, lingering fi nish; very classy and fi ne. ($60) +++++ (94) Shafer Red Shoulder Ranch Napa Valley Carneros Chardonnay 2009 (Cal- ifornia). Serious, classically styled chardonnay; rich apple, pear, and pineapple fruit with barely any RS; lees-focused creaminess, smooth tan- nins and acidity in perfect balance. ($55) +++++ (94) Girard Russian River Char- donnay 2011 (California). Delicious char- donnay from Russian River; fresh fruit on the nose with a beautiful vanilla undertone; light to medium in body; will pair well with all light to grilled foods. ($25) +++++ (94) Domaine Renaud Macon Village Burgundy 2012 (France). Classic Old- world style chardonnay; very clean and crisp with rich minerality; lighter in style and very user- and food-friendly; perfect fi rst white bur- gundy for the consumer. ($28) +++++ (94) Montes Alpha Casablanca Val- ley Chardonnay 2012 (Chile). A bright gold, with the faintest hints of green, in the glass; tropical fruit notes dominate the nose, with a trace of oak; the mouthfeel is luxurious, with fl avors that echo the nose; the fi nish is long, and lingering. ($23) +++++ (93) Chateau Ste. Michelle Canoe Ridge Estate Horse Heaven Hills Chardonnay 2012 (Washington State). A medium yellow/ gold in the glass, with great brightness; the nose is more dominated by tree fruit then any other component, with a nice touch of spice and oak; the palate is bright, clean, and fresh, with good