Dec. 14th meeting of Fayetteville (NC) Wine Society featured historic California wineries. We met in the new party room at Luigi's Restaurant (really nice.) With the white wines we were served bread with olive oil dip, grilled shrimp and crabmeat-stuffed mushroom caps.
2007 GRGICH HILLS FUME BLANC--pear and lemon scents on the bright nose; slight ammonia scent, some glycerlol effect on the palate, oily texture, ginger spice? pickled pear? Sauvignon Blanc in oak. Mike Grgich was winemaker at Montelena at one time.
Bottle available for $29.70
2005 MER SOLEIL SILVER, Santa Lucia Highlands
Unoaked. Volatile? Higher note. Penetrating. Delicate flavors of unadorned Chardonnay. I have purchased this before.
Bottle available for $29.70
2006 ANCIEN CHARDONNAY, CARNEROS
I preferred this nose to that of the Beringer Private Reserve Chardonnay which followed it. Rounded and fruity with some butter or vanilla but not flabby in texture. Juice sits on oak for 2 1/2 years.
Bottle available for $36.00
2007 BERINGER PRIVATE RESERVE CHARDONNAY, NAPA VALLEY
This had a toasty smell/nose. Plenty of oak, but balanced. Long finish. Slight white pepper note. Wine Spectator wine of the year in '94. Only white wine to be named WS wine of the year. Bottle available for $31.05.