WTN/Wine Advisor: Cute animal labels? Holy Cow!

[Robin Garr]

Cute animal labels? Holy Cow!

Tired of cutsey wine labels that try to grab your attention with precious little animals? There's nothing very cute about a full-grown cow, but this fun label adorns a pleasant, crisp and appley Chardonnay.

Let's follow up on Monday's report on a big, pricey Washington State Syrah made in an Australian style with a contrasting look at a fresh, affordable Washington Chardonnay that reminds me more than a little of a modest white from France.

Charles Smith Wines, best known for its "K Vintners" line of high-end, sturdy Washington State reds, gets the credit for this Columbia Valley white dubbed "Holy Cow." Its label bears a simple black-and-white drawing of what looks to my untutored eye like a hefty Holstein dairy cow, a small halo floating jauntily over her head.

You'll find no silly little penguins or kangaroos with tails in colors never seen in nature here, folks; just an attractive, food-friendly Chardonnay in a clean, crisp and fresh European style. Wine maker Charles Smith, the winery Website says, "loves to drink wine." I think that attitude shows in his eminently drinkable Holy Cow.

Charles Smith Wines 2006 "Holy Cow" Columbia Valley Chardonnay ($12.99)

Transparent straw color with glints of gold. Fresh, delicate apple scent, juicy and gently fruity. Simple and fresh, crisp Granny Smith apples, fully dry and properly acidic. Characteristic un-oaked (or lightly oaked) Chardonnay, bears a closer kinship to a basic Macon or generic Bourgogne than a fat, buttery and oaky New World Chardonnay. Fine if you like that style, and I certainly do. (Jan. 18, 2008)

FOOD MATCH: A splendid match with the rich aromatics of mahi mahi cooked en papillote with onion, garlic, ginger, lemon and lime, soy sauce, sesame and peanut oils and black and red peppers, the dish featured in last week's 30 Second Wine Advisor FoodLetter.

VALUE: Tastes like a good, basic Old World Chardonnay and priced a little better. No complaints here!

WHEN TO DRINK: Not a real candidate for cellaring, but the clean screwcap should hold it for a year or two on the wine rack.

WEB LINK:
You'll find brief information about the winery and its wines on the K Vintners Website:
http://www.charlessmithwines.com

FIND THIS WINE ONLINE:
Check the winery Website linked above for online sales, or compare prices and locate vendors for Charles Smith's "Holy Cow" Chardonnay on Wine-Searcher.com:
http://www.wine-searcher.com/find/Holy% ... g_site=WLP

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That sound like a pretty darn good white for every day sipping. Will I be able to find it in Lexington? Ky distributor?

[Robin Garr]

That sound like a pretty darn good white for every day sipping. Will I be able to find it in Lexington? Ky distributor?

No clue, Bob. Sorry, but I don't really pay much attention to who distributes wines locally. I got it at St. Matthews Wines. Old Town is a reliable source for K Syrah (I took one to MoCool one year), so I assume they have access to Holy Cow as well, but I haven't specifically noticed it there. I rarely get out to Liquor Barn any more, not because of any problem with them, but it's just a hike out to the 'burbs for me, and I have to pass about six other good wine shops to get there.

Thanks, it was worth a chance.

[Robin Garr]

Thanks, it was worth a chance.

I'm sure you know this, Bob, but for the benefit of lookers-on, any friendly retailer should be willing to look up any wine registered in the state and order it for you. I'm not sure what advantage there is to making direct contact with the distributor, since they can't sell to you directly, but if you know a way to do that and cut out the middleman, let me know!

Thanks, it was worth a chance.

I'm sure you know this, Bob, but for the benefit of lookers-on, any friendly retailer should be willing to look up any wine registered in the state and order it for you. I'm not sure what advantage there is to making direct contact with the distributor, since they can't sell to you directly, but if you know a way to do that and cut out the middleman, let me know!

Actually Robin, My only consideration when I asked about the Ky distributor, was that I could perhaps find out where it had been placed in Lexington. I find that most Lexington retailers want one to order more than a bottle of any wine before they special order it. Plus, I usually like to try one before buying several. About the other question, where there is a will, there is a way.

[Robin Garr]

Actually Robin, My only consideration when I asked about the Ky distributor, was that I could perhaps find out where it had been placed in Lexington. I find that most Lexington retailers want one to order more than a bottle of any wine before they special order it. Plus, I usually like to try one before buying several. About the other question, where there is a will, there is a way.

Good points all around, Bob. Anyway, I've done a little snooping around for us. Holy Cow (and K Vintners) is represented in this region by our buddies at Vintner Select.

They also make a Merlot, which a reliable source (Jack Johnson at The Wine Rack on Frankfort) says he thinks is even better than the Chardonnay. I acquired a bottle and will check it out ASAP.

Good points all around, Bob. Anyway, I've done a little snooping around for us. Holy Cow (and K Vintners) is represented in this region by our buddies at Vintner Select.

They also make a Merlot, which a reliable source (Jack Johnson at The Wine Rack on Frankfort) says he thinks is even better than the Chardonnay. I acquired a bottle and will check it out ASAP.

Thanks for the yeoman's work Robin. You are a better man than I to go check out an unknown merlot! I'll check around a nd see if I can find any K vintners wines.

Tired of cutsey wine labels that try to grab your attention with precious little animals? There's nothing very cute about a full-grown cow, but this fun label adorns a pleasant, crisp and appley Chardonnay.

This label would be better on a bottle of milk.
To me, on a bottle of chardonnay, it portrays an image of a milky chardonnay, a lactic chardonnay, even a buttery chardonnay - a product of the cow.

[Robin Garr]

To me, on a bottle of chardonnay, it portrays an image of a milky chardonnay, a lactic chardonnay, even a buttery chardonnay - a product of the cow.

I think you're reading this way too literally, Sue.

Does the white horse on the label of Chateau Cheval Blanc prime us to expect a brett wine, full of horsey aromas?

[Robin Garr]

Thanks for the yeoman's work Robin. You are a better man than I to go check out an unknown merlot! I'll check around a nd see if I can find any K vintners wines.

We quaffed the Holy Cow Merlot last night, Bob, and it was excellent. Even Miles would have liked it!

Be aware that K Vintners Syrahs are much bigger and more oaky, pretty much Parker-style wines in my limited experience. They're also fairly spendy ($30-$40 range). But the Holy Cow stuff is just made to be good drinkin' wine for wine geeks - fairly priced, but not sweet or flabby, good fruit over a good acidic core.