Attributes:

Oriel

Sonoma Coast, United States

Pinot Noir

750 ML

2003: WineEnthusiast Rating: 85

full-bodied

straightforward

cherries, cola, jammy, mocha

2002: WineSpectator Rating: 87

bright, fresh, lively acidity

black cherry, herb, plum, spice, toasty oak

Food Matches:

(pee noh nwahr)—A tricky grape to grow, Pinot Noir makes some of the best wines in the world. The prototype wine is red Burgundy from France but Oregon, California, New Zealand, and parts of Australia also produce good Pinot Noir. The wine is lighter in color than Cabernet or Merlot with relatively high alcohol, medium-to-high acidity, and medium-to-low tannin. Its flavors and aromas can be very fruity or earthy and woodsy, depending on how it is grown. It is rarely blended with other grapes.

In California, This is a 500,000 acre wine region spanning from San Pablo Bay to the border of Mendocino County. The appellation runs down the coast of the Pacific Ocean and is known for its cool climate and high rainfall. The grapes that produce the best wines from this region are Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Attributes:

Chateau Cadillac

Bordeaux, France

Bordeaux - White

750 ML

Food Matches:

A region in western France that grows famous red wines from the Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc grapes and white wines from Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon and Muscadelle grapes. Situated on the Atlantic coast, Bordeaux has a maritime climate with warm summers and fairly mild winters as well as an abundance of rain during harvest time. When young, the finest red Bordeaux wines have a deep cranberry hue and aromas of blackcurrants, plums, spice, cedar, and cassis. For the first ten years or so these wines can be very dry, with tannin masking the fruity flavors. Eventually the wines turn garnet, and develops an extraordinarily complex bouquet and flavor as well as softer tannins. The finest red Bordeaux wines still take 20 years or so before reaching their maturity. Two distinct red wine production zones exist within the Bordeaux region; the Left Bank and the Right Bank. The Left Bank vineyards are located west of the Garonne River and the Gironde Estuary, into which the Garonne empties. The Right Bank vineyards are east and north of the Dordogne River and east of the Grionde Estuary. Of the various wine districts on the Left and Right Banks, four are the most important for red wines: Haut-Médoc; Pessac-Leognan, St-Emilion, and Pomerol. For white wines, the most important are Graves and Pessac-Leognan.

Attributes:

Simi Winery

Russian River Valley, United States

Chardonnay

750 ML

1999: WineSpectator Rating: 91

rich

anise, earth, nectarine, spicy, toasty oak

1999: WineEnthusiast Rating: 87

full-bodied

rich

creamy, smooth

1999: CGCW Rating: 75

oak, peach, ripe fruit, smoky

1998: WineSpectator Rating: 87

racy

earthy, herbal, oak, pear

1998: WineEnthusiast Rating: 92

lively

focused

elegant

1996: WineSpectator Rating: 92

rich

delicious, elegant

citrus, nutmeg, pear, vanilla

1996: WineAdvocate Rating: 89

full-bodied, light

rich

butterscotch, honeysuckle

concentrated

Food Matches:

(shar dohn nay)—This noble grape’s reputation was established in France, particularly in the Burgundy region, and the highly prized Chardonnay wines from Chablis, Mâcon, Mersault, and Pouilly-Fuissé are imitated by winemakers around the world. Generally an oaked wine (whether from expensive oak barrels or a quick soak in oak chips), its fruity aromas and flavors range from apple in the cooler regions to tropical fruits such a pineapple in the warmer regions. It can also display subtle earthy aromas, such as mushroom or minerals. It has a medium to high acidity and is generally full-bodied. Classical Chardonnay wines are dry. Chardonnay is also an important grape in the Champagne district where it's picked before fully ripe and while it still has high acid and understated fruit flavors—the perfect combination for champagne. California has adopted this grape with a fervor and there are some 200 wineries producing Chardonnay wines in other parts of the United States. Chardonnay has also seen a tremendous planting surge in Australia, and new vineyards are being planted in Italy, Lebanon, New Zealand, Spain, and South Africa.