Attributes:

Rombauer

Carneros, United States

Chardonnay

750 ML

Food Matches:

This small section of Northern California is situated at the base of both the Napa and Sonoma Valleys. Carneros has made its reputation with its Pinot Noirs, which are filled with strawberry, cherry, spice, and chocolate, and are very rich and seductive. Chardonnay is also excellent, very buttery but not too fat.

(shar dohn nay)—This noble grape’s reputation was established in France, particularly in the Burgundy region, and the highly prized Chardonnay wines from Chablis, Mâcon, Mersault, and Pouilly-Fuissé are imitated by winemakers around the world. Generally an oaked wine (whether from expensive oak barrels or a quick soak in oak chips), its fruity aromas and flavors range from apple in the cooler regions to tropical fruits such a pineapple in the warmer regions. It can also display subtle earthy aromas, such as mushroom or minerals. It has a medium to high acidity and is generally full-bodied. Classical Chardonnay wines are dry. Chardonnay is also an important grape in the Champagne district where it's picked before fully ripe and while it still has high acid and understated fruit flavors—the perfect combination for champagne. California has adopted this grape with a fervor and there are some 200 wineries producing Chardonnay wines in other parts of the United States. Chardonnay has also seen a tremendous planting surge in Australia, and new vineyards are being planted in Italy, Lebanon, New Zealand, Spain, and South Africa.

Attributes:

Provenance Vineyards

Rutherford, United States

Cabernet Sauvignon

750 ML

2002: WineSpectator Rating: 90

fresh

rich

currant, earth, herb, lead pencil, mineral, sage, wild berry

concentrated

2002: CGCW Rating: 86

clean

chewy, dense

2001: WineSpectator Rating: 85

simple

well-made

2001: Tanzer Rating: 88

bright

deep, layered

blackberry, candied, cherry

2001: WineEnthusiast Rating: 91

chewy, strong, thick

2001: WineAdvocate Rating: 87

lean, medium-bodied

black cherry, herb flavors, oak

2001: CGCW Rating: 88

deep, rich

oak

austere

2001: WineEnthusiast Rating: 92

char

rich

blackberry, mocha, vanilla

ripe, sweet

fleshy

Food Matches:

(cab er nay saw vee nyon)—This highly adaptable grape grows almost anywhere it is relatively warm, but the best wines come from the Burgundy region of France (where it is a noble variety), California, and Australia. It became famous through the red wines of the Médoc district of Bordeaux and is now grown in Washington, southern France, Italy, Australia, South Africa, Chile, and Argentina. Cabernet Sauvignon grapes make wines that are high in tannin and medium- to full-bodied. Usually identified as having black currant or cassis flavors, the grape can also possess vegetal tones when the grapes are less than ideally ripe. The best wines are rich and firm with great depth, and are often aged for fifteen years or more. Because it is highly tannic, Cabernet Sauvignon is often blended with other less-tannic grapes such as Merlot.

The region of Rutherford is a large alluvial fan north of Oakville that spreads north and south in the middle of Napa Valley, CA. This sloping mass of sediments deposited by the river gave birth to some of the most famous and historic wineries in Napa. Composed of gravelly, sandy clay loam soil, in recent years you can't hear much about Rutherford without the fraise "Rutherford Dust", most likely do to the warm growing temperatures. Rutherford warm weather is well suited for the Cabernet Sauvignon which is the main wine of the region.

Attributes:

Terra Blanca

Red Mountain, United States

Cabernet Sauvignon

750 ML

1999: WineSpectator Rating: 89

solid

cherry, currant, raspberry, smoky

1999: Tastings Rating: 86

full-bodied

rich

velvety

1998: WineSpectator Rating: 83

lean

blackberry, currant, mint, pepper

1997: WineSpectator Rating: 90

black currant, blackberry, cedar

1997: Tanzer Rating: 85

berry, candied, raspberry, redcurrant, strawberry

sweet

Food Matches:

(cab er nay saw vee nyon)—This highly adaptable grape grows almost anywhere it is relatively warm, but the best wines come from the Burgundy region of France (where it is a noble variety), California, and Australia. It became famous through the red wines of the Médoc district of Bordeaux and is now grown in Washington, southern France, Italy, Australia, South Africa, Chile, and Argentina. Cabernet Sauvignon grapes make wines that are high in tannin and medium- to full-bodied. Usually identified as having black currant or cassis flavors, the grape can also possess vegetal tones when the grapes are less than ideally ripe. The best wines are rich and firm with great depth, and are often aged for fifteen years or more. Because it is highly tannic, Cabernet Sauvignon is often blended with other less-tannic grapes such as Merlot.

The Red Mountain AVA (established in 2001) is located at Red Mountain within Washington State. It is part of the larger Columbia Valley AVA, lying in the lower portion of the Yakima Valley. Located between Benton City and Richland, the Red Mountain American Viticultural Area is the smallest in the state with only 4,040 acres in area. The area has 600 acres under cultivation of primarily red varietals including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sangiovese, Cabernet Franc and Syrah. Despite being a relatively new AVA, the reputation of the wines produced in this area has brought Red Mountain worldwide acclaim. The vineyards in this appellation have produced grapes for some of the most sought after wines in Washington State.