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: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/282869
www.beveragedynamics.com March/April 2014 • Beverage Dynamics 65 CHARDONNAYS • WINE SELECTIONS Coast Chardonnay 2011 (California). Full bodied; supported by a baked citrus acidity; ripe pear fruit, a bit of sea salt minerality, a delicate creamy undertone with a long complex fi nish. ($60) ++++ (91) Columbia Winery Chardonnay 2012 (Washington State). Medium yellow- gold to the eye, with good weight; the nose is a heady mix of tree and tropical fruits, with a touch of yeastiness; the fruit and yeast are well inte- grated, in fl avor and texture; the fi nish extends for quite some time, balanced and supple; good value. ($14). ++++ (91) Catalpa Tupungato Chardonnay 2012 (Argentina). Golden color with aromas of pineapple, apple and tasty oak; well bal- anced with mineral notes and a lingering fi n- ish. ($20) ++++ (91) Bearboat Chardonnay 2011 (Cal- ifornia). Hints of toast, creamy smooth with a fruity sweetness on the fi nish; good with chicken and a tarragon cream sauce. ($16) ++++ (91) Antica Napa Valley Chardonnay 2011 (California). This chardonnay has rich- ness, yet remains elegant and delicate; gener- ous fl avors of pear, melon and nectarine that are focused and linger on the palate; the fi nish is complex, adding to the wine's persistence and freshness. ($36) ++++ (91) Butternut Chardonnay 2011 (California). A luscious chardonnay with big fl avors of butter, caramel and a hint of granny smith apple, topped off with a hint of smokiness; for serious chardonnay fans. ($18) ++++ (91) Rutherford Ranch Napa Char- donnay 2012 (California). Classic Napa char- donnay sourced from four distinct sub AVA's in the valley; primarily done in stainless steel for fermentation, they add just a hint of oak aging to the mix; rich mouth feel with bright acidity; Apricots, pear and vanilla dominate the nose with rich fl avors of pears, melon, and white peaches. ($25) ++++ (91) Rock View Reserve Mendocino Chardonnay 2012 (California). Rich with depth in fl avor and creamy roundness on the palate; pretty layered notes of honey, fi g, vanilla and hazelnut; great long fi nish lingers. ($25) ++++ (91) St. Francis Sonoma County Chardonnay 2011 (California). Medium bod- ied; butterscotch and pineapple notes with crisp acidity and rich lingering fi nish. ($17) ++++ (91) Benziger Sonoma County Char- donnay 2011 (California). Sustainably certifi ed, this is refreshing and evokes notes of lemon, pear apricot while fi nishing with a creamy tex- ture. ($18) ++++ (90) Talbot Kali Hart Chardonnay 2011 (California). A light and fresh chardonnay typical of the Monterey styles; the mid palate brightness almost makes your palate forget about the delicate butter and slight caramel notes. ($21) ++++ (90) Decoy Sonoma County Chardon- nay 2012 (California). Made with an emphasis on grapes from the cooler Sonoma Coast, this fresh and attractive wine displays aromas of green apple and pear, alongside citrus-inspired notes of tangerine and orange blossom; a plush mid-palate, perfectly integrated oak and bal- anced acidity. ($18) ++++ (90) Silver Buckle Lodi Chardon- nay 2011 (California). Another cooler climate example of Lodi fruit, light oak aging lets the fl avors shine; crisp apples, pineapple, and ripe pears; lighter style, easy drinking, clean crisp fi nish. ($27) ++++ (90) Parducci Small Lot Chardonnay 2012 (California). Defi nitely cool climate char- donnay; sourced from select lots in Mendocino, it undergoes a balance of stainless steel fer- mentation with minimal oak aging; clean, crisp, lighter in style; hints of vanilla, caramel and but- terscotch.($18) ++++ (90) Angeline California Chardonnay 2013 (California). A solid value, this chardon- nay starts off with a burst of tropical fruit that transitions to a decadently textured toasty oak and vanilla; full-bodied and creamy with a cit- rusy, crisp fi nish. ($12) ++++ (90) Wildhaven Columbia Valley Chardonnay 2012 (Washington State). A pleasantly refreshing chardonnay that contains subtle notes of baking spices, butterscotch and peach; the fi nish has a citrus-laden crisp- ness. ($11) ++++ (90) Cruz Alta Reserve Chardonnay 2013 (Argentina). The grapes for this chardon- nay were grown at the foot of the Andes Moun- tains; a crisp style that has generous apple and pear notes; a light touch of oak ties everything together nicely and the wine ends with a refresh- ingly long fi nish. ($11) ++++ (90) Muirwood Reserve St Lucia Chardonnay 2013 (California). Tropical fruit fl avors layered with creamy vanilla and butter- scotch notes; elegant and heavy on the palate with a nutty spice that extends through the long fi nish. ($17) ++++ (90) Estancia Monterey County Char- donnay 2011 (California). Lush tropical fruits and soft creamy fi nish. ($15) ++++ (90) Los Vascos Chardonnay 2012 (Chile). From one of the oldest wine estates in Chile, the 2012 Los Vascos Chardonnay is an elegant offering with notes of pineapple, banana and apricot framed by vibrant acidity and a crisp fi nish.($12) ++++ (90) DeLoach Central Coast Char- donnay 2012 (California). Beautifully crafted with lovely fl avors of lemon, pear and pineapple supported with pleasant minerality and nice, bal- anced acidity. ($13) ++++ (90) Pierre Labet Beaune Blanc Des- sus Marconnets 2010 (France). Mouth-wa- tering freshness with zippy lemon acidity; balanced with hints of white peaches and a slight pineapple note; nice minerals in the mid- dle with soft hint of barrel aging. ($30) ++++ (90) Toloso Unoaked Central Coast Chardonnay 2012 (California). Mostly estate grown fruit, this wine is done in a un-oaked style; night-harvested, cold pressed, stainless steel fermented; clean, crisp, fresh; hints of co- conut and nutmeg on the nose lead to pineapple and melon fl avors. ($28) ++++ (90) No/Co North Coast Chardon- nay 2011 (California). Sustainable Sonoma and Mendocino vineyards provide the fruit for this very interesting wild-yeast fermented, unoaked style; richly textured, yet not buttery; ihnts of peach, melon, and grapefruit are bal- anced with a slight minerality and crisp, zesty acidity. ($16)