Stateways

Stateways March-April 2014

StateWays is the only magazine exclusively covering the control state system within the beverage alcohol industry, with annual updates from liquor control commissions and alcohol control boards and yearly fiscal reporting from control jurisdictions

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StateWays Q www.stateways.com Q March/April 2014 46 +++++ (94) Robert Mondavi Carneros Napa Valley Chardonnay Reserve 2011 (California). A rich, yel- low 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 Char- donnay 2009 (California). Serious, classically styled chardonnay; rich apple, pear, and pineapple fruit with barely any RS; lees-focused creaminess, smooth tannins and acidity in perfect balance. ($55) +++++ (94) Girard Russian River Chardonnay 2011 (California). Deli- cious chardonnay 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 burgundy for the consumer. ($28) +++++ (94) Montes Alpha Casa- blanca V alley 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 weight; the fi nish maintains this balance for a long time. ($30) +++++ (93) Pride Chardonnay 2011 (California). Lemon, crushed rocks, spices and white fl owers all come to life in the glass; partially 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 (Califor- nia). Full-bodied and concentrated with a juicy core of apple, pear, zesty lemon 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; butter- scotch fl avors at the fi nish after waves of tropical fruit; great long lingering fi nish; over-delivers for the money. ($36) +++++ (97) Frank Family V ine- yards Chardonnay 2012 (California). Classic new-world style; fruit forward, rich creaminess, long fi nish; very bal- anced; Carneros fruit over-delivers; fl oral notes of honeysuckle and fresh bread dough; tropical fruit fl avors dominate. ($48) +++++ (95) Alexander V alley Vineyards Sonoma Chardonnay 2012 (California). Estate grown, night harvested; interesting approach to blending stainless steel with no ma- lolactic fruit with whole cluster fruit, aged in French oak with malolactic fermentation; rich mouth feel, very bal- anced, good acidity; toasted oak, rich butterscotch and tropical fruit fl avors blend harmoniously. ($40) Top Quality/ Value Chardonnays Based upon wine reviews from StateWays' sister publication Beverage Dynamics, here is a list of some of the top Chardonnays cited by retailers. S tateWays' sister publication Beverage Dynamics publishes a list of wine recommendations, called Retailer Wine Selections, in every issue based upon written evaluations by its National Retailer Wine Panel. The parameters of each list range from specifi c varietals to favorite summer or holiday wines. Each review includes brief tasting notes, a rating and the wine's retail price (which varies from store to store and market to market). The following is a sampling of top Chardonnays chosen by the Beverage Dynamics National Retailer Wine Panel from its latest issue.

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