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/658171
www.beveragedynamics.com March/April 2016 • Beverage Dynamics 77 CHARDONNAYS • WINE SELECTIONS is the "wild yeast offering." The Miner family sources from three of the top Napa sites, and then utilizes native yeasts. For the fermentation process, 16 months in oak with 100% malolac- tic and barrel fermentation yield a rich, opulent wine, ripe with tropical fruit notes. This one can only improve with light cellaring, if you're pa- tient enough. ($54.99) (92) Yalumba Unwooded Chardonnay 2014 (South Australia). A good wine at a good price. The non-toasty fl avor profi le is refreshingly crisp, speckled with peach and pineapple notes throughout. A zippy fi nish with sleek texture. ($10.99) (92) Jean-Marc Brocard Sainte Claire 2014 (Chablis, France). This wine begins with a fl inty aroma that leads the way into pure green apples and lemons on the palate. The mid-palate has fi ne richness that fi nishes with vibrant acidity. Drink this now; great when paired with seafood or a white sauce pasta dish. ($22.99) (92) Flora Springs Chardonnay Barrel Fer- mented 2013 (Napa Valley, CA). Bright, crisp aromas and fl avors of pear and golden deli- cious apples, balanced beautifully by toasty oak and crisp acidity. The fi nish is long and refreshing. ($35) (92) Maison Roche de Bellene 2011, (Bour- gogne Blanc, Vieilles Vignes, France). As good as it gets for white Burgundy anywhere close to this price point. A high-energy Chard that exhibits Meyer lemon, tart apple, allspice and honeysuckle. Nervy and persistent acidity keep the fl avors nicely focused. ($21.49) (92) Domaine Lafage Novellum Chardonnay (Roussilon, France). The best value in Char- donnay you can fi nd. Aging on Viognier lees gives this wine body without the use of oak, so it meets the well-balanced look that touches every side of Chardonnay drinkers. It is near impossible to fi nd value in Chardonnay that is not one-noted, and Novellum Chardonnay's complex fruit and mineral tinged fl avors keep it away from that. To boot, you are drinking Chardonnay from Roussillon, France, which is an anomaly in its own right. This wine deliv- ers each vintage and the 2014 is no slouch. ($12.99) FOUR STARS (91) Sean Minor Sonoma Coast Chardonnay (Sonoma Coast, California). Another reputable producer heads out to the Sonoma Coast — but Sean Minor is making their Chardonnay at a price the consumer can actually get on board with. Whole-cluster pressed with natural ma- lolactic fermentation occurring, the wine has enough acidity to still present itself as balanced as possible. This is a big feat considered it was aged for 10 months in French Oak Barrels. A toast to a more classic California Chardonnay with pear and tropical fruit notes, and a back- ground of vanilla and baked apples. ($19.99). (91) Merino 'Limestone Hill' Chardonnay 2012 (Limari Valley, Chile). A beautiful Chilean Chard with no malo! Aromas of orange peel, lemon and clove lead to fl avors of green apple, more spice and some chalky minerality. Lots of class to this one. ($29.99) (91) Qupé "Y" Block 2013 (Santa Barbara County, CA). A big, rich chardonnay, overfl ow- ing with ripe mango and apricot fl avors. Crisp acidity with layers of fruit that build to an attrac- tive fi nish. Perfect when served with a creamy cheese like Camembert, and walnuts. ($19.99) (91) Paradise Ridge Chardonnay 2014 (Rus- sian River, CA) Very clean, golden light color, vi- brant notes of apples, a hint of citrus and toasty creaminess, full mouthfeel, white fl owers, a hint of magnolia blossoms, generous lushness balanced with clean refreshing acidity. An ex- cellent example of a Russian River Chardonnay. ($22.99-27.99) (91) Eden's Eve Chardonnay 2014 (Russian River Valley, CA). A rich, ripe chardonnay, me- dium body, with delicate fl avors of pear, green apple. The wine builds intensity and ends with an oak-infl uenced vanilla fi nish. ($29) (91) Rock View Chardonnay 2014 (Men- docino, CA). Elegant with a layered creamy roundness on the palate that complements the acidity. Rich notes of pear, apple and citrus pro- vide a great initial fl avor that carries over to the fi nish. ($27) BD HMGI Restaurant Group Charleston, SC Bill Netherland Wine Director Holiday Wine Cellar Escondido, CA Jim Kern Manager/Wine Buyer Hy-Vee Wine & Spirits Silvis, IL Kevin Miller Wine & Spirits Manager K&L Wine Merchants Redwood City, CA Bryan Brick, Sales Consultant Legal Sea Foods Boston, MA Sandy Block VP, Beverage Operations Liquor Barn Louisville, KY Michael Sorg, Wine Manager Liquor Boy St. Louis Park, MN Peter Herlofsky III Wine Manager Maggie Wine Consulting Poughkeepsie, NY Maggie Gephard President Mainstreet Wines & Spirits Countryside, IL Nancy J. Sabatini Dir. Wine Ed. & Sales Malloy's Finest Wine & Spirits Naperville, IL Bruce Jaroski 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 Spec's Wine, Spirits and Finer Foods Houston, TX Hermen Key VP, Retail Development The Liquor Store & Wine Loft Jackson Hole, WY Nate Mylott Manager/Buyer The Little Nell Aspen, CO Timothy Baldwin Director, Food and Bev. Total Wine & More Claymont, DE Cristina Pearce Senior Buyer Towne Spirits and Fine Wine/Elite Beverages Noblesville & Indianapolis, IN Arnie Lewin Wine & Spirits Director Trig's Cellar 70 Minocqua, WI Dennis J. Kohl Beverage Consultant Vino 100 Michael A. Schaefer, CWE Dir., Business Develop- ment Vino Loco Wine & Tapas Sarasota, FL Joyce Colmar Managing Partner Willowbrook Spirit Shoppe Cromwell, CT Christopher Cambareri Owner The Wine Seller Ridgewood, NJ Don Carter Owner/Sommelier Yankee Discount Liquor East Haven, CT Deepak Pattani, Owner Yankee Wine Newtown, CT Steve Small General Manager