($9). A surprise tasting
winner, with appealing, aromatic peach
and floral notes giving a mellow edge
to the juicy pear and toasty, vanillin
oak character. Fruity finish. (Drinks
with Les Dames 06/06)
($12). 50% Grenache Blanc, 50% Roussanne.
Offers plenty of flavor, including ripe
apple, papaya and yeast, with refreshing
minerality that emerges on the finish.
Could stand up to the heartiest of chef
salads -- this is also a good choice for
grilled chicken Caesars and the like.
Ready to drink now. (Bargain Wine 08/06)
($13). Loads of grapefruit
is the star in this Languedoc (southern
France) white, with fresh herbs and floral
notes that add interest. A few of the
Dames thought it was too much grapefruit
and not enough style. From a Clos du Val
collaboration. Ready to drink now. (Drinks
with Les Dames 06/06)
($16). Ripe red cherry and
cola aromas and flavors are accented with
rich vanilla, licorice and chocolate notes
on the finish. Ready to drink now. (Weekend
Wine 02/07)
($13). A nice deal on a totally drinkable
white -- with aromatic apricot and citrus
flavors, mineral and peach accents, and
a fruity finish. Ready to drink now. (Bargain
Wine 08/06)
($12). Probably better known as Red Bicyclette
Chardonnay, this wine shows nice depth,
with its ripe pear and fig fruit layered
with smoky oak, roasted hazelnut and creamy
finish. Ready to drink now. (Weekend Wine
03/05)
($10). Easy, appealing quaff, with fresh,
sunny apple flavors that linger on the
creamy finish. Ready to drink now. (Bargain
Wine 04/06)
($10). Interestingly, this
happy little wine was a tasters' favorite.
It is peachy, if it's anything. It is
unexpectedly open on the nose, with a
full wave of peach and floral aromas.
And peach and floral are what you get
on the palate, too. But there is still
enough balance by way of the lightest
touch of oak, as well as a little fig
and hazelnut flavors to make this a thoroughly
enjoyable wine. (Texas Wine Pick, Viognier
Tasting 02/00)
