Some Dandy, and Inexpensive, Recent Wines

Really, really cheap ones

 

Very moderately priced ones

Fetzer Five River Ranch Chardonnay, 2001, Monterey County
6-7
$9
Nose: flowery, oaky.
Taste: soft, very smooth typical chardonnay, medium-long.

 

Pepper Wood Grove Chardonnay, 2001, California
7
$7
Nose: light, clean.
Taste: more acid than the Fetzer, a little apple, crisp, clean finish.

 

Black Opal Cabernet Sauvignon, 2001, 82% Cab, 18% Merlot, S.E. Australia, by Wolf Blass
7
$7
Nose: good cabernet, fruity.  
Taste: very cabernet, bright, long.

 

Not cheap, exactly, but worth it

Rosemount Chardonnay, 2001, Show Reserve, Hunter Valley
7
$15-19
Nose: clean.
Taste: well-balanced chardonnay, not overpowering.  

 

Rosemount Cabernet Sauvignon, 2000, Show Reserve, Coonawarra
6-7
$18
Nose: good, medium nose, 
Taste: deep purple, a little closed, great tastes underneath.

 

Arrowood Grand Archer Cabernet Sauvignon, 2000, Sonoma County
7-8
$18
Nose: big nose, full, showy.
Taste: terrific berry, cherry, even chocolate.  

 

Copyright (C) 1998-2003 by Richard Landau. All rights reserved. Comments and flames to the author. "Why use rational argument when there's a flamethrower handy?" Hey, go ahead. I didn't exactly leave the gloves on when I wrote this. (home page) (webmaster@ricksoft.com). Last modified 2003/07/14.