2008 Crios Chardonnay, not a winner

Susana Balbo produces some of my favorite wines from Argentina, but not this time. The 2008 Chardonnay is not a winner; it lack cohesion. Unlike her other wines, which all have balance and ripe fruit that you enjoy immediately, this guy sucker-punches you with too much oak and no fruit or acidity. Give this one to your old boss when you quit your job, just so he knows how much you think of him.

what is in the back of your fridge?

I found a bottle of 2004 Terlaner Nova Domus Riserva in the back of my fridge last night and thought, what the heck, how bad could it be? It was a blend of 60% Pinot Blanc, 30% Chardonnay, and 10% Sauvignon Blanc. The wine showed nothing at first glance, so I decided to let it start warming up, and that's when it came to life. Over the course of the evening there were peaches, pears, citrus notes, and stoic minerality - the flavors just kept coming. What a stupendous bottle of wine. A Wine Guy Yeah Baby. And now I am off to do some more fridge diving.

Ridge Vineyards

Tried four wines with Eric Baugher, winemaker at Ridge Vineyards. First was their 2007 Santa Cruz Chardonnay. This wine has great balance and nice acidity. The grapes were grown in limestone and that really shows through on the finish. This wine needs time to mellow.

Next we had the 2006 East Bench Zinfandel. This wine is 100% Zinfandel, and you know it is right from the nose to the finish. This wine screams Zin without being over the the top; it is reserved and well-made in keeping with the Ridge style.

Then came the 2007 Lytton Springs. Fluctuating aromas lead to a structured wine that would be awesome with a grilled ribeye. Oh baby.

Finally we had the 2006 Monte Bello. Oak hits you in the face, good old American oak. The wine is a rich purple that almost reflects your desire to dive in. Cassis flavor is layered with dark fruits and toast - did I mention the oak , good old American oak, that comes back on the supple finish? I put a half glass off to the side and found it today. Wow, what great stuff. A Wine Guy Favorite.

Not a fan of the hills

Tried some of the Penfold's Koonunga Hills wines one more time. The last time I do that! First up was the 2007 Chardonnay. The citrus flavors fight with the oak, and the wine has no balance. Number two, and this would be an apt description of this wine, was the 2006 Cabernet/Merlot blend. This wine is bitter and thin. Last and I mean least was the 2006 Shiraz: light on the berries, with a surprisingly sharp finish. NEVER AGAIN!