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/36361
(91) Columbia Crest Grand Estates Chardonnay 2009 (Washington State). This consistently tasty chardonnay year after year is a top value; the balance of butter, tropical notes and acidity pair with a wide vari- ety of foods and social occasions. ($12) (91) River Road Russian River Valley Hopkins Vineyard Chardonnay 2009 (California). Wonderful harmony; crisp with a light toasty oak complements the rich peach, pineapple and apple flavors of this single vineyard. ($21) (91) Monticello Estate Oak Knoll Chardonnay 2008 (California). Polished flavors of apples, peaches and a rich coating of oak; good structure; strong backbone of acidity that turns creamy as the toasty oak unveils itself. ($29) (91) Tamarack Cellars Chardonnay 2009 (Washington State). Orchard fruit leaps out of the glass; on the palate, the wine has weight and luscious tropical fruit notes; the fin- ish is long and full of butterscotch. ($19) (90) Mount Eden Wolff Vineyard Chardonnay 2008 (California).Wonderful, ripe fruit and richness mark this chardonnay from the historic vineyard that was previously known as the Macgregor Vineyard; the wine sees 100% MLF; a combination of new and used French oak. ($20) (90) Jip Jip Rocks Chardonnay 2010 (Australia). Light lemon-golden color with supple tex- ture and good balance; beautiful nose of spiced pear, melon, green apple and peach; clean on the palate. ($16) (90) Courtney Benham Edna Valley Chardonnay 2010 (California). Shows the bright acidity and minerality of the coastal region, along with ripe pineapple, key lime and vanilla; cinnamon and nutmeg spice flavors, enriched with the but- tered brioche flavors of the barrels. ($18) (90) Bridgman Chardonnay 2009 (Washington State). Flavors of brioche, vanilla and tropical fruits; sits in oak for less than four months and NATIONAL RETAILER WINE PANEL ABC Fine Wines & Spirits Orlando, FL Brad Lewis, Director of Wine Sales Director/Sommelier Back Bay Restaurant Group Boston, MA David Alphonse Beverage Director Bay Ridge Wine & Spirits Annapolis, MD Todd Brentnall Wine Manager Berbiglia Wine & Spirits Kansas City, MO Ralph J. Bondon Vice President/Owner Beverages & more! Concord, CA Wilfred Wong E-Commerce Cellar Master Bottle Bargains Northport, NY Ryan Armstrong Store Manager Andina Restaurant/ Pearl Wine Shop Portland, OR Ken Collura Bottle King Liquors Livingston, NJ Steve Carpentier General Manager Bowery & Vine Wine & Spirits New York, NY Bill Beard, Manager Retail Fine Wine Buyer Cornwall Wine & Spirits Cornwall, NY Kenn Brodmerkel, Owner Cotuit Liquors Marston Mills, MA Dan O’Brien, President Crestwood Liquors Coventry, RI Matthew A. Reay VP Marketing/ Merchandising Jack Mantle, Wine Dept. Grand Tastings Dallas, TX Terri Burney President Frugal MacDoogal’s Nashville, TN Brown Derby Stores Springfield, MO John Riley Manager/Wine Buyer Hamilton Beverage/ United Package Liquors Indianapolis, IN Arnie Lewin Manager/Wine Buyer Happy Harry’s Bottle Shop Grand Forks, ND Dustin Mitzel General Manager Minnetonka, MN Daniel A. Manning President Hy Vee Wine & Spirits Milan, IL Wine & Spirits Manager K&L Wine Merchants Redwood City, CA Bryan Brick Sales Consultant Liquor Barn Louisville, KY Michael Sorg Wine Manager Charles Gibson Haskell’s The Grog Shop Huntington, NY Rob Wand Vice President/General Manager Malloy’s Finest Wine & Spirits Bob Lechowicz Wine Director Mills Fine Wine & Spirits Annapolis, MD Peter Finkelstein Wine Consultant North Ridge Wine Ellicott City, MD Brad Boarman Owner Prime Wines & Spirits Kenmore, NY Rick McLeod Wine Manager Premium Wine & Spirits Williamsville, NY Dave Cleveland General Manager Prestige Wine & Spirits Orchard Park, NY Jeff Vignaux General Manager Glen Ellen, IL Wine Cellars Hyde Park, NY Maggie Gephard Liquorama Spec’s Wine, Spirits and Finer Foods Houston, TX Collin A. Williams Wine Buyer Jorge L. Mendoza Sommelier The Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne Miami, FL Season Onto Season Wine & Liquor Shops Montgomery, NY Benjamin W. English General Manager Wine & Spirits Director Shaw's Crab House Chicago, IL Steve Tindle Stew Leonard’s Wines Farmingdale, NY Jerry Martellaro Manager/Wine Buyer Matt Swingos, Owner Swingos on the Lake Lakewood, OH Trig’s Cellar 70 Minocqua, WI Dennis J. Kohl Beverage Consultant Total Wine & More Claymont, DE Christina Pearce Senior Buyer Twin Peaks Liquor Longmont, CO Cliff Froehlich Wine Consultant/ Sommolier Wine Director/Asst. General Manager Wine Program Manager The Waverly Inn New York City, NY Erin Fitzpatrick Christopher Cambareri Owner General Manager Yankee Wine Newton, CT Steve Small Willowbrook Spirit Shoppe Cromwell, CT Washington State Liquor Control Board Steve Burnell San Francisco, CA Adam Betts Urban Tavern finishes in stainless steel. giving it a nice crispness and acidity. ($11) (90) Decoy Sonoma County Chardonnay 2009 (California). Layers of soft butter, vanilla and oak give a great depth of richness without overwhelming the palate. ($18) (90) Silver Palm North Coast Chardonnay 2010 (California). Brilliant, pale-straw- yellow color with the alluring scents of granny smith apples; crisp and clean with the harmonious balance of fruit and acid that make this wine a delight. ($14) (90) Vincent Sauvestre Savigny-Les-Beaune 2009 (France). A medium-bodied, dry white Burgundy whose quality matches many more prestigious and expensive appellations; clean and complex. ($20) (90) Laetitia Estate Arroyo Grande Valley Chardonnay 2009 (California). Beautifully balanced fruit and oak notes with a long com- plex finish; a notable value. ($16) Beverage Dynamics • www.beveragedynamics.com • July/August 2011 • 51