Beverage Dynamics

Beverage Dynamics March-April 2014

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.

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64 Beverage Dynamics • March/April 2014 www.beveragedynamics.com WINE SELECTIONS • CHARDONNAYS prisingly rich; minimal oak, citrus hints, with touches of vanilla, spice and butterscotch; per- fect as a fi rst chard for the beginner, but will surprise your friends in a blind tasting. ($15) +++++ (93) Moniker Mendocino Chardon- nay 2012 (California). The Russian River actually starts up in Mendocino; the primary source for this wine is the La Ribera vineyard, family owned on the banks of the river; viognier from Hopland, and a different lot of chardonnay are blended in and barrel fermented; great minerality, with pear and apple fl avors; rich and creamy. ($22) +++++ (93) Logan Chardonnay 2012 (Cal- ifornia). From Talbott's Sleepy Hollow Vineyard, Logan delivers a food-friendly chardonnay with ripe peach, pear and hints of French Oak; subtle complexity develops with each tasty sip; try with lobster. ($19) +++++ (93) Casa Lapostolle Grand Se- lection Casablanca Valley Chardonnay 2011 (Chile). A rich, buttery texture with hints of honey, apricot, peach, and citrus; a nuance of toasty oak rounds out the wine on the fi nish; stylistic and fl avorful. ($14) +++++ (92) Heitz Cellars Chardonnay 2012 (California). Lots of citrus and melon with weight; the fi nish maintains this balance for a long time. ($30) +++++ (93) Pride Chardonnay 2011 (Cal- ifornia). Lemon, crushed rocks, spices and white fl owers all come to life in the glass; par- tially done in steel(15%) and the malo was not fully completed; two choices that show Pride moving towards a fresher, more vibrant style of chardonnay; superb. ($43) +++++ (93) Whitehall Lane Carneros Chardonnay 2011 (California). Full-bodied and concentrated with a juicy core of apple, pear, zesty lemon and pineapple fl avors that are in- tense and focused; excellent depth, fi nishing with a long, persistent aftertaste. ($30) +++++ (93) Olivier Morin Constance Chitry Bourgogne Blanc 2011 (France). Chitry is west of Chablis and has the same Kimmeridgian soil; the classic minerality displayed in good Chablis shows here along with aromas and fl avors of under-ripe apple, pear and citrus; excellent Bour- gogne Blanc to pair with shellfi sh. ($20) +++++ (93) Round Hill Chardonnay 2012 (California). Light to medium bodied, but sur- balanced acidity and a whisper of oak. ($21) +++++ (92) Stasis Murmur Vineyard Chardonnay 2011 (California). Stunning char- donnay from California's Santa Maria Valley; tiny production; great richness and complexity; nicely balanced. ($40) +++++ (92) Mer Soleil Reserve Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay 2011 (Califor- nia). Citrus aroma; citrus fl avors with lemon predominating; hints of vanilla and honey; long fi nish. ($29) +++++ (92) Qupe Y Block Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay 2012 (California). Great balance and bright acidity; crisp apple and Asian pear fl avors with a lovely savory, buttered toast fi nish. ($23) +++++ (92) Fontanelle Castello Banfi Char- donnay 2012 (Italy). Pale yellow in the glass, with straw hints; the nose is a balance of fresh fruit, tree and tropical, with notes of sweet oak; the palate is a refl ection of the nose, with won- derful bright fruit, and good texture; the fi nish is quite long, with elegance and pedigree. ($20) +++++ (92) Cloisonne Napa Valley Char- donnay 2012 (California). Tropical aromas jump from the glass; apple and citrus fl avors lead to a near perfect fi nish with hints of oak; superb value. ($20) +++++ (92) Domaine Roux Père & Fils Pouilly-Fuissé 2012 (France). A lighter, bright gold, in the glass; the nose is quite fresh, with notes of tree fruit, and hints of nuts and fl oral components; the palate is fresh, clean, and lively; very well integrated and balanced, this is a wine that is immediately satisfying, and can easily age for the mid-term. ($36) FOUR STARS ++++ (91) Stuhlmuller Vineyards Estate Al- exander Valley Chardonnay 2011 (California). Fresh, vibrant citrus aromas with a little pear and pineapple; sophisticated mouthfeel, boast- ing pear, citrus and lemon custard with hints of almond and clove; fabulous acidity adds to the elegant, fresh fi nish. ($26) ++++ (91) Kistler Les Noisetiers Sonoma +++++ (93) Cecchetti Wine Company Line 39 Central Coast Chardonnay 2012 (California). An excellent example of its AVA; lush tropical fruit balanced with a nu- ance of oak; lively sweet/tart acidity makes it a refreshing style that will complement most any light cuisine; easy to enjoy and a great value. ($12) +++++ (93) Wente Vineyards Riva Ranch Arroyo Seco Chardonnay 2012 (California). From the pioneering Chardon- nay producers, the color is medium gold. On the nose, notes of spice and oak, blend seamlessly with the tropical fruit. The palate follows suit, with good weight and complexity on the fi nish. ($22)

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