d'Arenberg's The Stump Jump 2007

Region: Adelaide, Australia
Grapes: 62% Riesling, 18% Sauvignon Blanc, 8% Marsanne, 6% Viognier, 6% Chardonnay
ABV: 13%
Price: $12

Pale in color with the scent of sweet lemon custard, you would believe this wine to be sweeter than it in fact is. Only slightly sweet with a pleasantly tart acidity. Simple, but a good choice for someone trying to move into drier wines for the first time.

Region: Southern Australia
Grapes: 50% Grenache, 29% Shiraz, 21% Mourvedre
ABV: 14
Price: $12

Light ruby in your glass. Almost bright. Nose of dark fruits and oak with plum and blackberry standing out on the palate with a delicious spice overlay. Wonderful finish. Best $12 red you will buy this year.

Vinterra Chardonnay 2006

Region: Napa Valley, California

Grapes: Chardonnay

ABV: 13.5%
Price: $15

Light and bright at first glance with a pleasant nose of melon, comes across very earthy and oaky, almost, but not completely, masking a background of citrus. Very dry. For oak lovers.

Carmen Reserve Chardonnay 2006

Region: Valle de Casablanca, Chile
Grapes: Chardonnay
Price: $7
Alcohol Level: 14%

Light amber in color with a sweet nose. This Chardonnay has no oakiness and is very tangy and acidic. I caught flavors of melon, lemon and lime. Citrus flavors linger on the finish.

Auvigue Mâcon-Villages 2006

Preface: This is my chance to clean out a bit of a stockpile I had built up of these things. Call me obsessive...


Region: Mâcon-Villages, Burgundy, France
Grapes: Chardonnay
Price: $17
Alcohol Level: 13%

Chardonnay. The most popular varietal of wine in America. This wine, from the taste, has not seen much oak. If you like a big, woody Chardonnay you need to look elsewhere. This wine is a beautiful pale-gold in color and has a sweet and slightly citrus aroma. Upon taste, you are greeted with a very subtle acidity and a nice fruity (somewhat citrusy) mouthful. The finish can only be described as lemony. Would be great with a seafood meal.

Nothing that really stands out, but a really solid bottle of wine.