Three Sticks 2006 Durell Vineyards Chardonnay

Courtesy Three Sticks
Courtesy Three Sticks

We tasted the Three Sticks 06 Chard in possibly the worst possible situation – a gigantic show and tasting put on by the Family Winemakers of California.  Imagine a room as big as a football field, with over 100 wineries, each trying to impress restaurant owners and retailers and even some consumers.  It was chaotic and noisy.  And there was a lot of wine.  So it really means something that this one chardonnay managed to stand out – in a good way.

It has the classic chardonnay nose, with a little hint of honeysuckle, just enough to tease, but not enough to smell sweet or cloying.  There’s a touch of oak, a combination of fifty percent new French oak and fifty percent neutral oak, just enough to concentrate the flavors that make a good chardonnay without tasting like splinters.

Tasting, Michael got apples, citrus and melons with a rich mouthfeel and enough tannins to keep the palate happy.  This is a good food wine.  Try fruit, cheeses, chicken and possibly a cream sauce with pasta. And if you really want to, you can cellar it, thanks to the right balance of acids, tannins and alcohol.

Eden Canyon 2005 Jolie Bordeaux-Style

edencanyonjolieThis is a classic Bordeaux-style wine, made with 88 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 12 percent Petit Verdot. this is no heavy fruit bomb, but it’s no lightweight, either, even with only 13 percent alcohol.  Which means you get the flavors of the wine without the “hot” alcohol taste.

It has a rich ruby color with a deep cherry fruit nose and French oak perfume. The acids are centered with some softer tannins and no residual sweetness. There’s a dry fruit taste and a very good finish. Match it with a nicely grilled steak or herb garlic-crusted prime rib.