Summer White #5

One of my favorite wineries on the the Central Coast is Domaine Alfred. Their organic vineyard is located in the heart of the Edna valley and for the last several years has put out some excellent examples of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

When I found their Stainless Chardonnay on sale for $9.99 at Trader Joes I was at once surprised and excited. I remember their regular Chardonnay being amazing, but expensive at about the $25 mark. So I bought the bottle without hesitation and opened it up with some summer veggies and tofu.

The color was very pale in comparsion your typical chardonnay. The nose was both fruity and floral, which reminded me of rosehips, cucumbers and honeydew. The palate was bright, almost to a fault, with a limelike zing to the finish. Their was a peculiar aftertaste which I did not particularly care for.

Overall this was a bit dissapointing given my memories of their standard Chard, but still a decent buy for those interested in the nuances of unoaked Chardonnay. I'd prefer several of the other wines tasted this summer when given the choice. 7/10

Summer White #4

This time I ventured down to see Bob at Grape Connections to see what kind of summer whites he would recommend for summer quaffing. Bob always comes up with a good wine to suit my requests and this time was no exception.

He chose a 2007 wine from Languedoc composed of 80% Chard and 20% Muscat called Domain de Bonal produced by Domain Auzias Paretlongue. A google search yielded little information about the wine, which made the prospect of tasting it even more exciting.

The wine had a beautiful honey color with an expressive nose of pears, peaches and honeysuckle. A medium mouth weight and palate of plums & apples gave way to an slightly off dry finish. The whole experience was reminiscent of drinking really complex plum wine, highly original and enjoyable. Served alongside Indian dumplings stuffed with vegetables and served with spicy eggplant relish.

Overall this wine was slightly more expensive at $9.99, than the other wines tasted thus far but nonethless represents an excellent value. Those looking for a decidely different look at Chardonnay will find much delight in this refreshing summer white. 8/10

Summer White #3

Trader Joes yet again supplied this week's featured white wine. A smooth blend of 50% semillion and 50% Sauvignon Blanc, Les Caves Joseph is a Bourdeaux Blanc available for a mere $6.99 at a Trader Joes near you.

I was immediately impressed by the complexity of the bouquet for a wine at this price point. The nose hinted at pineapple, mowed grass and fresh cut flowers typical of Sauvignon Blanc. A swirl in the glass yielded a delightful yellow a hue and allowed the nose to express itself even further. The Sauvignon Blanc definitely made it's presence felt on the palate as well. The wine displayed a crisp, citrus presence in the mouth and had a nice dry finish with just a hint of oak. I paired the wine with a creamy asparagus and leek soup, topped with crisp pancetta. The contrast of the sweet, creamy and nutty flavors of the soup balanced the wine's fruit and acidity quite nicely.

I think this wine is an excellent bargain, but still falls short of the bar set by last week's Vouvray. It's difficult to compare the two wines because of thew inherent differences in their style, but in terms of overall quality there is still a noticeable difference. However, until I find a better value this will be the "go to" white wine when a dry, acidic style best serves the cuisine being served. Excellent Value. 8/10.

Summer White #2

Like last week, I ventured into the Trader Joes down the street from my humble abode in search of a summer white wine priced to kill.

This time my eyes settled in on a 2007 Vouvray by LeChetau that checked in at $5.99 made from 100% Chenin Blanc. Being a fan of the varietal I was hoping to find a good value and I was not disappointed.

The wine basically kicks ass at this price point. Beautiful light and golden color. Aromatic nose suggesting summer melons and peaches. Wonderful off dry palate and finish, peppered with tropical fruits of unknown origin. Low alcohol makes the final product taste something like high end Welches white grape juice with peaches, cantaloupes and other fruit extracts added to it. The wine made a fantastic complement to the spicy Indian chickpeas I served it with.

This the type of summer value I'm looking for right now. In comparison to last week's choice, this is a superior product by leaps and bounds. You will not be dissapointed by this wine. Highly recommend. 9/10.