All Set in Massachusetts

"Warming Up" to Easter Sunday Chardonnay

Middleridge Ranch Vineyard

Alondra Chardonnay, 2007

Mendocino County, California

We first tried the Alondra Chardonnay several weeks ago at a wine tasting and thoroughly enjoyed it with bleu cheese and crackers. It is crisp and refreshing with a sweet pear aroma - ideal for those who prefer a no-oak Chardonnay. The taste balances citrus and mineral flavors, with a tart finish. We purchased a bottle and were excited to try it again on a special occasion, such as Easter Sunday.  This time, we chilled the wine in the freezer (a wine no-no?) and didn't enjoy it as much. However, the flavors seem to open up as it warms at room temperature. We also think this wine might be best served with food. A recent LA Times article recommended chilled seafood, steamed clams and mussels, spaghetti with clams, or a plain grilled fish.

A&T Ranking: 7/10

Thadd's Price-Wine Score Ratio- P/WS Ratio

A valuation ratio of a wine’s current price compared to its Wine Spectator Score.

For example, if a wine is currently selling at $20 a bottle and has a Score of 91, the P/WS ratio for the wine would be 0.21 ($20/91)  vs. 0.60 ($55/91)

Also sometimes known as "wine multiple" or "wine scoring multiple".   

In general, a high P/WS suggests that wine lovers are drinking over-priced wine and wasting their money.

Fun French Chardonnay

Barton & Guestier

Macon-Villages Chardonnay, France, 2003

As we continue our exploration of wines around the world, we're often overwhelmed when it comes to choosing affordable French wines. That's why it's worth noting when we stumble across a decent one. While some of the French Chardonnays we've tried have had strong mineral tastes, this wine was refreshing with hints of citrus and floral flavors. It was perfect for a summer evening and complemented our salmon dinner nicely without being too buttery or oaky. We look forward to trying this wine again and sampling other varietals from this vineyard.

A&T Ranking: 7/10

                                                                                                               

White Lie Always Hurts

White Lie

Early Season Chardonnay, 2004

Santa Barbara County

Last night, our friend Brady came over for our first spring BBQ. The weather was warm, spirits were high, so we decided to try a fun, light wine. We chose White Lie because it was on the discount rack in the checkout line at Rapid Liquors - marked down to $5.99 from $7.99. While this wine certainly scores high for its price, it fell way short on flavor. We joked that it reminded us of Fruit(2)0 - water with just a hint of chardonnay flavor. The back of the bottle claims that the wine was made with grapes harvested at their earliest ripeness, making it low on sugar and alcohol (only 9.8% versus the typical 13.5-14.5% for chardonnay). Yet only after a glass and a half, both of us woke up this morning with brutal headaches (although this could have been in part due to the change in weather). Regardless, this wine's price - even at a reduced $5.99 - does not make it worth drinking. However, we should point out that Brady liked the wine much better than we did, as she prefers lighter wines.

A&T Ranking: 2/10

Best of 2005 - Wine, Food, Travel

Happy New Year! As we close the book on 2005 and get ready for 2006, we thought it would be fun to re-cap our favorite hotels, meals and wines of 2005.

Here they are:

Best Meals of 2005

1) Aujourd'hui - Boston, MA: Top-notch service and perfectly prepared, elaborate dishes from appetizers through dessert. Our third visit to this outstanding restaurant didn't disappoint!

2) MIX - Las Vegas, Nevada: Unique "champagne bubble" decor at the top of The Hotel (Mandalay Bay) with amazing views of the strip. A savory spicy thai beef salad and the most tender of beef tenderloins with blac truffles and foie gras make this restaurant worth the exorbitant prices.

3) The Herbfarm - Seattle, Washington: A visit to the Herbfarm is more than just a meal - it's a culinary adventure. This evening-long experience began with a stroll through the extensive herb garden (with a few fresh samples along with way) and cultimated with the "Basil Banquet," where we enjoyed dishes infused with all types of basil - from lemon to chocolate (who knew there were so many kinds of basil!!). Each of the courses was paired with outstanding wines from around the world.

Best Hotels of 2005

1) The Phoenician - Scottsdale, Arizona: Stunning desert views from our terrace in this spacious luxury hotel room with a spa tub and extra-comfortable king-sized bed. Nice pool with good food/beverage service - and spotting the Memphis Grizzlies basketball team catching a few rays was a nice bonus! Romantic terrace bar with live music.

2) The Four Seasons - Vancouver, BC: We spent our one-year anniversary at this oasis in the heart of Vancouver. Upon arrival, the hotel upgraded us to an elegant one bedroom suite on a high floor (with two bathrooms!) and sent us complementary champagne and strawberries for our anniversary. We savored them as we watched a glorious sunset over the city.

3) The W Hotel - Seattle, Washington: We've stayed at several W Hotels and are consistenly impressed with the combination of chic style and excellent service (many hotels do one or the other well, but not both).  Even though it took us a few minutes to get our room due to late checkouts, we ended up with a nice corner room with floor-to-ceiling window views, a luxurious king-sized bed, and designer bath products.

Best Wines of 2005

White: Cakebread Cellars, 2002, Chardonnay Reserve, Carneros, Napa Valley

Red: Tremani, 2003, Pinot Noir, Hansen Vineyards, Russian River Valley

Best Wine Shop of 2005

Sonoma Wine Shop, Sonoma, California

It's Easy to Take La Chance

Clos La Chance

Santa Cruz Mountains

Chardonnay, 2002

NH Liquor Store $15.99

Clos LaChance Chardonnay is harvested from small backyard vineyards and has maintained a nice acid structure, making it an ideal wine to enjoy with food. Clos means the small fenced in area encompassing a vineyard, and LaChance is co-owner Brenda Murphy's maiden name. We enjoyed this wine over the Fourth of July weekend with grilled tuna marinated in honey soy sauce. The wine complemented the tuna very well and was smooth and easy to drink. Its oak flavors were present but subtle and blended easily with hints of fruit - making this one of the better balanced Chardonnays we've tried.

A&T Rating: 8/10

Disappointing Chardonnay

Fetzer Barrel Select Chardonnay

Mendocino County 2002

New Hampshire Liquor Store

$10.99

Cool fermentation of the free-run juices is supposed to preserve lush rich flavors of peaches and pears. However, we were not impressed by this Chardonnay at all. Its oak flavor overpowered any essence of fruit, and it was so acidic that it was almost bitter. We drank it by the seaside in Maine on Memorial Day weekend and were disappointed that it didn’t offer better balance and finish. The texture of the cork didn’t feel right (it almost felt artificial), which may have been a contributing factor. With so many great Chardonnays in this price range, we wouldn’t try this one again.

A&T Ranking: 3/10

Ringing in the New Year

Stag’s Leap

Chardonnay,2002

Napa Valley

Our wedding day was certainly the highlight of 2004, so it seemed only fitting that we savor this wedding gift from our friends Melanie and Bryan on New Year’s Eve. This bottle accompanied a lobster dinner that we enjoyed with our good friend, Cara. This wine was interesting in that it had many flavors that were somewhat uncharacteristic of chardonnay – its fruit and acidity was balanced with medium dryness and oak flavors.

A&T Ranking: 7/10

We also tried Hayman and Hill Chardonnay (Russian River Valley, 2002) on New Year’s Eve. This affordable Chardonnay was full-bodied and opulent with strong citrus aromas and flavors and only a touch of oak. All of us enjoyed the wine thoroughly, and it’s worth a try for its sub-$15 price point.

Buttery and Smooth

Truchard Triumph

Chardonnay, 2002

Carneros

MSRP $28  (we can’t find the receipt, but it was definitely cheaper at the NH Liquor store)

So many of the Chardonnays we drink blur together in mediocrity, but this one stands out as exceptional. Along with La Crema, it’s one of the best Chardonnays we’ve had all year and far outshines many of its more expensive counterparts. We understand why it made the Wine Spectator Top 100 list – it is completely buttery and smooth with subtle citrus flavors. There are hints of oak, but it’s not overpowering. The Truchard vineyard is known for its clay, shale and sandstone. Maybe those are the magic ingredients, but this winemaker is certainly doing something right.

A & T Ranking 9/10

No OakTown

Arrowood
Grand Archer
Chardonnay, 2001
Sonoma County

Purchased: NH Liquor Store
Price: $10.99-- I think
Drank: December  4, 2004
Who: Thadd and Alice

Arrowood Chardonnay got an excellent ranking by the Wine Spectator, so we couldn't resist picking up a bottle last time we were at the New Hampshire Liquor Store -- especially because it's so affordable. This is a light, fruity Chardonnay with hints of vanilla and little or no oak and hardly any aroma. We enjoyed it with grilled tuna steaks, cous cous and salad, and it complemented it nicely, as we enjoyed the wine more and more with each sip. The flavor is well-balanced but not overpowering. This wine is for people who like a softer Chardonnay as opposed to a robust, hearty one.

Ranking: 7.5/10