Inserrata Intrigo Bianco Toscana Chardonnay IGT 2022, Tuscany, Italy

This is a very interesting take on Chardonnay from Tuscany.

Pale lemon in color.

Dry on the palate and medium in body with medium acidity.

Showing lemons, apples, pears, light earth, herbs, ginger, spices and minerals.

Easy drinking and engaging. Elegant and entertaining.

Showing good balance, and a little creamy. A touch of bitterness makes it interesting. Smooth, with nice complexity. 

I had the 2020 vintage a couple of years ago, and it is very consistent.

Good by itself or with food. A nice sipping wine.

100% Chardonnay grapes were aged in stainless steel vats for 6 months (4 months on its lees). A tiny production of only 2,000 bottles.

14% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$60.

Tenuta Azienda Agricola Bosco de Medici Dressel 19.2 Amphora 2023, Pompei, Italy

Dark yellow in color with a golden hue.

Full-bodied with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity and mouthfeel.

Showing lemons, red and yellow apples, apricots, light citrus, nuts and light earth.

Tangy finish with almonds and sea salt.

This is a very tasty orange wine from Pompei. Elegant and fruity. Buttery and round.

100% Caprettone grapes. A very small production of only 1,900 bottles.

13% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$90.

Omina Romana Chardonnay ARS Magna 2020, Lazio, Italy

Dark golden in color.

Nose of citrus, yellow apples, melons and spices.

Full-bodied and elegant with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with apples, lemons, oak, vanilla and Indian spices.

Spicy finish with nuts and more spices.

This is a very tasty Chardonnay from Lazio, Italy. Feels like a white Burgundy.

Showing nice complexity now, and feels young. Oaky and spicy. A good quality wine.

This 4 year old is easy drinking and good by itself or with food.

Aged in used French oak barrels for 12 months on the lees.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$65.

Pellet Estate Sunchase Vineyard Chardonnay 2017, Sonoma County, California

Deep gold in color.

Strong nose with red and yellow apples, oak, vanilla, pears and spices.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with apples, light citrus, honeydew, oak, marzipan, vanilla and Indian spices.

Tangy finish with limes and almonds.

This is a tasty, 7 year old, Oaky Chardonnay from Sonoma County. This Single Vineyard is spicy and entertaining.

Still rich on the palate, but some of fruits are a little faded by now. I really liked the nose, as it is showing lots of elegance. I enjoyed it, although an oaky Chardonnay is not my style. 

Good right out of the bottle, and better with airtime.

Will continue to drink nicely in the next couple of years.

Barrel fermented and aged in French oak barrels for 16 months.

14.6% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$68 (at release).

Keenan Winery and Vineyards Spring Mountain District Chardonnay 2021, Napa Valley, California

Golden in color.

Elegant nose with citrus, vanilla, spices and light oak.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity. Buttery, yet crisp.

Dry on the palate with limes, grapefruits, citrus, green apples, spices, light oak, vanilla and herbs.

Medium finish with bitter almonds and limes.

This this is an easy drinking Chardonnay from Spring Mountain District in Napa valley. Feels young and fresh, and showing mild complexity at this point.

Nicely balanced and spicy, with a buttery mouthfeel.

This is what one expects from a Chardonnay from Napa Valley, very true to the Terroir. Would be nice to revisit it in a year or two and see how it evolved.

Needs 15 minutes of airtime, and better when not too cold.

Good by itself or with food. Paired nicely with the Italian Prosciutto.

Handpicked Chardonnay grapes were aged for 7 months in French and American Oak barrels.

13.9% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$46.

Meadowcroft Wines Wyldvin Vineyard Roussanne 2022, Dry Creek Valley, California

Pretty gold in color.

Light nose with citrus, limes, minerals and light aluminum.

Light to medium in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with citrus, apples, light earth, herbs, spices and white pepper.

Tangy finish with limes and almonds.

This is an interesting white wine from Dry Creek Valley in Sonoma County. Easy drinking and good by itself or with food.

This Single Vineyard Roussanne feels like a Southern Rhone white. Soft and elegant. Crisp and refreshing.

Better after 20 minutes of airtime. Would be nice to revisit it in a year or two.

I had it by the pool.

A tiny production of less than 1,000 bottles.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$38.

Smith-Madrone Vineyards Spring Mountain District Riesling 2019, Napa Valley, California

Light yellow in color with a golden hue.

Beautiful and aromatic nose with apples, white flowers, diesel notes, honey and minerals.

Medium plus in body with high acidity.

Dry on the palate with a touch of RS.

Showing citrus, limes, apples, spices, white pepper, minerals, sea salt, light river rocks and diesel.

Tangy long finish with limes and spices.

This is a delicious Riesling from Spring Mountain District in Napa Valley. Elegant and fruit forward with enough acidity to balance the fruits.

Rich and nicely balanced. Feels like a Mosel Riesling. Tangy and interesting. 

Still young, and already drinking beautifully. Will continue to age nicely in the next 15+ years.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 20 minutes of airtime. Better when not too cold.

I had a few vintages of this wine and it always delivers. This vintage is delicious.

Good by itself as a sipping wine or with food. Will pair nicely with spicy Asian food.

13.3% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$40.

McKahn Family Cellars Catie’s Corner Vineyard Viognier 2022, Russian River Valley, California

Very pale lemon in color.

Aromatic nose of flowers, citrus, yellow apples, spices, pears and light tropical fruits.

Medium to full bodied with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with limes, apples, light grapefruits, spices, light earth and white pepper.

Soft finish with almonds.

This is a very tasty Viognier from Russian River Valley. Rich and fruit forward.

Well balanced with nice complexity. Buttery and spicy.

Still young and needs a few years in the bottle to mature properly. Would be nice to revisit it in 2 years and see how it evolves.

This Single Vineyard Viognier is a good quality wine, and better when not too cold. Easy drinking and good by itself or with food.

Whole Cluster Viognier grapes were aged on the lees for 6 months in neutral oak barrels.

13.9% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$42.

Domaine Le Garenne Vouvrey 2020, Loire Valley, France

Pretty gold in color.

Nose of citrus, limes, green apples, honey, bananas, spices and minerals.

Medium plus in body with high acidity.

Dry to off dry on the palate with lemons, green apples, spices, light grapefruits and herbs.

Long finish with limes and spices.

This is a wonderful surprise. What a delicious Chenin Blanc from France.

Nicely balanced with a great mouthfeel. Elegant and fruit forward. Rich and exciting.

Showing nice complexity, especially on the nose.

This 4 year old is peaking now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next year or two.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 20 minutes of airtime. Crisp and better when not too cold.

Good by itself as a sipping wine, and will also pair nicely with food.

Made with 100% organic Chenin Blanc grapes.

13% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

Vitkin Winery Collector’s Edition Gewurztraminer 2018, Israel

Light yellow in color with a golden hue.

Very aromatic nose of flowers, citrus, apples, pears, tropical fruits, spices, honeysuckle and melons.

Full-bodied and buttery with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with lemons, yellow apples, bitter herbs, vegetables, earth and spices.

Short finish with limes and almonds.

This 6 year old Gewurztraminer from Israel is still drinking nicely. Lost much of the fruits on the palate by now, but the nose is delicious.

Showing a soft mouth feel with nice complexity.

I liked the nose better than the palate. Good right out of the bottle and better with food. 

Kosher and not Mevushal.

13.4% alcohol by volume.

88 points.

$35.