Carneros

Medium golden in color, clear and bright.  Nice nose with lemon cream, slight pineapple, vanilla and some minerality.  Full bodied.  Bigger texture.  Good balance.  On the palate, this has a bit of oak showing but is quite tasty.  Flavors of lemons, pineapple, vanilla, spice and char.  Long finish.  Another year or two should help this come together.  Drink over the next ten to twelve years.  Very nice on its own, this would work well with many foods.  A nice choice for Lobster but also a stir fried Tofu and vegetables dish.  

I don't see many Pinot Gris from California and certainly not many as as good as this one.  It is made with Estate grown fruit from Carneros.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is strong with peaches, white flowers, slight fig and a bit of tropical fruit.  Medium bodied.  Slightly viscous.  Moderate acidity.  On the palate, this is tasty with apples, peaches, slight lime and just a bit of almond.  Nice finish.  This is a refreshing wine that drinks easily but also has some depth.  Drink over the next five years.  It will also work with lighter foods.  A nice choice for Chic

This is from Etude's estate grown Grace Benoist Ranch Vineyard.  It is a larger in style Pinot Noir but not over the top by any means.  Deep garnet in color, mostly opaque and bright.   The nose has cherries, slight strawberries, slight forest floor, and spice.  Great, semi-plush texture.  Nicely balanced.  Light tannins.  On the palate, flavors of cherries, strawberries with some baking spices.  Nice finish.  This is drinking quite well now and should continue for another ten years.  It is lovely on its own and will work well with many foods.  Grilled Salmon with a cream sauce would be cla

This is from the American sparkling wine outpost of Taittinger.  Green gold in color with a nice mousse of very small bubbles.  The nose has pears, slight lemons, toast and a hint of vanilla.  Full bodied.  Good acidity.  On the palate, the pears with underlying char.  Some lemon notes on the finish.  Good finish.  This is nice on its own and should be very food friendly.  A great wine to share with popcorn when streaming a movie.  Drink over the next three to five years.  

This estate Pinot is a lively compilation of black cherry, strawberry, plum, blackberry compote, with back notes of rhubarb, huckleberry and black tea. The acidity drives the fruit. This is not a shy Pinot, but an overt celebration of expressive fruit. The wine spent 10 months aging in French oak, 33% of which was new, therefore the fruit is more dominant. Using a variety of Pinot Noir clones, winemaker Steve Rogstad, has decades of experience working with his vineyards, and knowing how best to use the excellent fruit that grows on their property. ORIGIN: Napa Valley, Los Carneros.

Light golden in color with some green hues.  The nose is nice with slight tropical fruits, granny smith apples, and hay.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this has a nice crispness.  Lemons, green apples and slight grassy note.  Slightly oily texture.  Nice finish.  Overall, this is a nice California chardonnay that drinks well on its own and would be nice with chicken salad or other lighter meals.  Drink over the next five years.  

Green/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is very tight and took some time to open.  With air it shows butterscotch along with peach.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this has a hint of sweetness along with peach and slight lemons.  Long finish.  This needs a bit of air at the moment so maybe hold for a year and drink for five to eight years after that.  Nice on its own, this would work well with Tuna steaks.  

This is one of the best selling Chardonnays out there but does seems to be a love it or hate it wine.  Count me as a fan.  Green/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has peach, apple and spices.  Full bodied.  On the palate, this has a bit of sweetness with tart grapefruits to balance it.  Also some oak spices come thru.  Pretty much a poster child for Napa Chard these days, but it did not seem overblown.  Better on its own, though it should work well with fried foods.  Drink over the next few years.  

Yellow/green in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with Meyer Lemons, slight peach and just a hint of oak.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, crisp acidity with lemon candy notes.  It drinks easy but has some stuffing too.  A bit different from the "typical" Napa Chardonnay.  This is nice on its own and should be very food friendly with lighter foods but even poultry and seafoods.  Drink over the next five years.  

Cuvaison is best known for their Chardonnay and Pinot Noir but in 2012 they launched a sparkling program. Comprised of mainly Pinot Noir and 35% Chardonnay, this brut was made in the traditional Champagne method. Using Pinot Dijon clone 115 planted in 1998, winemaker Steve Rogstad says these 25-year-old vines bring a “precocious beauty” to the wine, and I have to agree. This is a delicate wine with minimal sweetness, using the grace of the Pinot and the acidity and light salinity of the Chardonnay to make a very balanced, almost shy wine.