Davis Bynum sell off at Grocery Outlet

For those who have an affection for the Davis Bynum winery in Sonoma's Russian River Valley, I noticed today that Grocery Outlet (a discount food marketer in the western US) is selling off the 2005 Russian River Valley Chardonnay for $6.95 less a 20% wine discount. I will be having the wine with dinner, but if you are in the neighborhood of one of these shops you might check it out. They also had a Davis Bynum zin for $12 less 20% (for wine sale days). The chard is 64% Bynum estate vineyards and 36% Dutton Hill Vineyard which was fermented in stainless steel, and bottled after 8 months of sur-lie aging with no oak.
Checking out the winery website led me to the note that the winery had been sold in Aug. of 2007 to another Russian River Valley grower, so the sell off makes some sense. I'll post a tasting note later. Jim

Dear Jim,
Thanks for the heads up, I may stop by tomorrow. Please let us know what you think.
Walt

FYI, the sauvignon blanc is bone dry, a little alcoholic, but still sound.

Looks like the Davis Bynum wines haven't made it to Northern Nevada. But, I found a 2001 Patrick Le Sec Cotes du Rhone "Bouquet" ($7.99) - way too bretty..even for me. Also, they had the non vintage Petite Crau ($3.99) which had a decent nose but flattered to deceive on the palate with some tartness and little fruit.

Well, the Davis Bynum chard opened with very leesy notes befitting a wine kept on its lees for 8 months, and some mild apple (Fuji like) aromas. Good acidity and definitely no oak notes were identified. After about 1/2 an hour the wine mellowed out to a good food wine (it stood up to the spicy chile rellenos we had) and has rounded out to a decent, but by no means great wine. It is precise, and well made, and worth the $5.50 I paid for it simply for the no oak, leesy, appley experience. Screwcap, too. I may go back for the zin tomorrow. From sodden norcal, Jim