Clos Du Bois Sauvignon Blanc

2006
North Coast
California

(Please note - the two photos here are of La Segreta - the wine I had recently at a restaurant that I liked. The Guy ordered it from one wine shop, and I ordered it from another. Both came in today. It was a wonderful accompaniment to grilled chicken, creamy parmesean risotto, and buttery spinach.)

A very bad photo of the Clos Du Bois exists below - venture forth if you will. :)

Matt & Corrine - Thank you for your comment - I have responded if you check back to your Renwood note. Thank you again, for stopping by and for giving me incentive to give it a go one more time.

Onto the Clos Du Bois review:

Will drink again - with seafood next time.

The Guy, with the best of intentions I'm sure, thought he'd bring me home my favorite summertime staple: Clos Du Bois . . . Chardonnay. He brought home a BIG bottle of the Sauvignon Blanc instead. I actually had not had it before - because I am not particularly fond of Sauvignon Blanc as I don't like a zip to my wine - I like it more heavy bodied and smooth. Anyway, I "suffered" through a couple of glasses and actually found I enjoyed the flavor. It was good with a simple grilled chicken Caesar Salad. A bit citrusy with melon, it had a slight woodsy finish that I liked.

The next evening, in the sweltering heat of my Cape's upstairs, after struggling to put in air conditioners, I poured myself a glass in my newly cleaned bedroom, plucked myself in front of the air conditioner in my great, great grandmother's mahogany rocker, and turned on Rock Hudson and Doris Day in the 1961 classic Lover Come Back (that's Rock up there on the screen in my blurred photo, along with a ripped wine label) and sipped in comfort and pleasantry.




Falling forward, her head splits
Too much of herself shown
Warrior princess turned feeble-minded waif
Tumbling forward into the unknown

Unaccepted the way she really is
Held in high regard for something she's not
The words hurt her eyes
His disappointment echoing like a gun shot

No wind can blow the sound away
Nor reverse the hole
The residual frustration
Now burns her soul


7.75 out of 10
13.5% alc. by vol.
$23 / 1.5 L
closdubois.com

La Segreta Planeta

2005
Bianco
Sicily, Italia


Will drink again. Very enjoyable.

A blend of Grecanico, Chardonnay, Viognier, and Fiano, I loved this wine that I had at one of my favorite local area restaurants. It very nicely accompanied a ricotta olive appetizer spread on crostini bread, as well as my walnut, gorgonzola salad and my main entree of salmon, risotto cake and asparagus. Full and dry, the flavor was very distinct with a fruitful combo of pineapple meets peach. It had a wonderful, slight mineral finish for a white wine.

Although it is not a staple in local wine shops, I've requested it and hope to get my own bottle soon.

Softly in her sleep
Pictures of the life she's longing
For slowly appear
She's seen them all before
But somehow never quite this clear
She just smiles, she don't want the world

The open wound she hides
She just keeps it bundled up
And never lets it show
She can't take much more of this
But she can't let it go
And that's ok, she don't want the world

All the things she says
While he's just lying there
Without someone to hear her cry
She slips off into a dream
About a place to hide
And that's ok, she don't want the world

3 Doors Down, She Don't Want the World

8.25 out of 10
$14 / 750 ml bottle

Renwood Sierra Series

2003
Barbera
California

Might drink again.

This was pretty good I guess :# - The Guy really liked it. It was good, just too weak for my liking - more on the lighter side than medium. I thought it accompanied turkey meatballs and spinach well. The Guy liked it all the way around - alone, with food, in front of the computer, upside down with a spoonful of Italian Ice.

A spicy, hot cherry scent, it was slightly peppery, subtle fruit and a slight olive finish.

You don't know about my past, and
I don't have a future figured out.
And maybe this is going too fast.
And maybe it's not meant to last,

But what do you say to taking chances,
What do you say to jumping off the edge?
Never knowing if there's solid ground below
Or hand to hold, or hell to pay,
What do you say,
What do you say?

Celine Dion, "Taking Chances"

7.5 out of 10
$10 / 750 ml. bottle
13.5% alc. by vol.
www.redwood.com

Bogle Old Vine Zin

2006
California

Will drink again.

Good on its own and good with simple bow tie pasta, EV olive oil, sauteed garlic, broccoli and parmesean cheese. Scent was hot granite, black cherry and spice. Taste was similar with slight tobacco. Very good for the price range.

I’m one of the chosen few
Who went ahead and fell for you
I’m out of vogue, I’m out of touch
I fell too fast, I feel too much
I thought that you might have
Some advice to give on how to be
Insensitive

Jann Arden, "Insensitive"

7.75 out of 10
$11.99 / 750 ml. bottle
14.8% alc.by vol

Cartlidge & Brown Chardonnay

2006
NAPA
California

Would drink again.

Badger fan - thank you for sticking with me and checking back. Glad I could help. I hope you will come back once you've been where you're going to get that Champagne! (If you do get your hands on it, come back and give your own review of it.)

This was enjoyable on it's own and with chicken and rice. Medium bodied with light oak and a bit of pineapple in the taste, I would recommend this as a summer accompaniment to lighter fare - grilled chicken, creamy risotto, lighter cheeses. What I don't like is any zip to my white wines - I like them smooth. This wasn't as smooth as my favorite Clos Du Bois 2006 Chardonnay, but it had very little noticeable zip, making me happy.

Lord give me the clarity to see through this smoke,
And salvage the woman comin’ down.
Lord make me an arrow to pierce through the lies
(comin’ down, comin’ down),
Lord make me a lens to better see my life
(comin’ down, comin’ down),
Lord make me an instrument to sing away the pain,
This rushing river, comin’ down.
I’m free, here in the mountains of peace may I be.
I see the greatness above and the smallness of me. . .

. . .So free, here in garden awake consciously,
I see the greatness within; the greatness in me.
Lord I’m your instrument, I’ll shoulder the weight,
Of feeling emotions in a deeper shade.
I’ll be the one who puts them to song,
And liberate the heartache comin’ down.


Paula Cole, Comin' Down

8.0 out of 10
13.5% alc. by vol.
$10 /750 ml bottle
www.cartlidgeandbrowne.com

SHOTFIRE Shiraz

2005
BAROSSA BABY!!!!!
Australia

Will so drink again.

Father's Day pick - I knew it would be safe. I find Shiraz goes nicely with grilled anything and I know the Barossa Valley produces distinct, flavorful reds.

Chocolate and vanilla meet smokey plum. Strong finish. Earthy and smokey scent. Great alone and with grilled chicken with garlic, sweet onion, red pepper, and creamy parmesean risotto.

So I hid my soiled hands behind my back
Somewhere along the line I must've gone off track with you
. . .Well, excuse me, guess I've mistaken you for somebody else,
Somebody who gave a damn,
Somebody more like myself. . .
These foolish games are tearing me apart,
And your thoughtless words are breaking my heart.
You're breaking my heart.

JEWEL / FOOLISH GAMES !
8.25 out of 10
14.0% alc. by vol.
$12/750 ml. bottle
www.thornclarkewines.com

Twisted Zin

2005
Old Vine Zinfandel
California

Would drink again . . . if I had to (just kidding). Worth the price.

Very fruit forward with blackberry and cherry too and then a little bitter olive. Has a medium finish that turns a little bittery. The Guy liked it quite a bit. I liked it better on its own than with turkey meatballs and spaghetti with roasted garlic tomato sauce.

Thoughts damage,
memories fade and
the deep bones within feel

Eyes brim,
heart aches and
just won't heal

Stomach churns,
as words break
that were never real

7.25 out of 10
$9 / 750 ml bottle
14.5% alc. by vol.
twistedwine.com

Kendall Jackson Chardonnay 2006 AND Nebilo Sauvignon Blanc

2006?
Nebilo Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough, New Zealand
$10?/750 ml bottle(or more)
7.50 out of 10

2006
Kendall Jackson Chardonnay
California
$15 / 750 bottle
8.0 out of 10

Yes, yes, yes I know that I have a pic here of Clos Du Bois 2006 Chardonnay with my Kendall Jackson and Nebilo reviews. I am not crazy . . .yet.

Friday night I went out with a couple of co-workers to catch "Sex and The City" (it ended up being a pretty good movie but at first I wondered what the heck was wrong with the actors - it was like they needed the first 45 minutes to warm up into acting again - they were over-acting initially and I was disappointed. Then it got interesting during the second half -not to mention racey). Anyway, we went to a local pub/restaurant first and I decided to order the Nebilo Sauvignon Blanc as I've not had it before. It's scent was extremely peach-y which I loved though I worried slightly it might be sweet. It wasn't sweet, it's taste however, was very much peachy-citrusy but a little weak in the finish. However, it really accompanied my Shrimp Casino very well. "Welp", my arm got "twisted" and I was treated to another glass of wine and I opted out of the Nebilo and went with what I knew would be better in consistency - Kendall Jackson Chardonnay. I usually order this when I go out for lunch though I'm not sure I've reviewed it here. It's consistently good and I can pretty much count on it being enjoyable with shrimp or chicken or salmon salad. It tasted awesome following the Nebilo. It had vanilla and oak and buttery notes with a hint of mineralness - which I don't pick up on normally in the KJ. Following the Nebilo and shrimp it tasted so much more awesome.

Well, here I am on a Sunday drinking an old standby that I've reviewed before, Clos Du Bois 2006 Chardonnay (purchased in New Hampshire yesterday, TAX-FREE!!!) - wonderful. This will be my summer staple this year - like the KJ, it's got vanilla and butter and an awesome hint of mineralness - all that I long for in my Chardonnays.

The wild and windy night
That the rain washed away
Has left a pool of tears
Crying for the day
Why leave me standing here
Let me know the way

Many times I've been alone
And many times I've cried
Any way you'll never know
The many ways I've tried

But still they lead me back
To the long, winding road
You left me standing here
A long long time ago
Don't leave me waiting here
Lead me to your door

The Beatles, The Long and Winding Road

AUSTRALIA

Beringer Founder's Sauvignon Blanc

2006
NAPA Valley
California

Would drink again.

This is a very simple, refreshing versatile "cheap" wine. On a warm summer day, served with the right appetizer, this is pretty good. A very light, light, golden green / straw in color, it's a mild blend of citrus and slight vanilla. Not too dry, not too sweet. Accompanies cheese and crackers and strawberries well.

I take a figure drawing class at a museum and besides that being the best perk of all to the class - being surrounded by the paintings and sculptures of some great American artists - one of the other very nice perks is that we often stop in the middle of our four hour class, get up and go see the latest exhibit. Often we apply it to what we are doing, other times we just admire it. This past week, we had the luxury of being able to participate in the opening reception for an artist I immediately loved: Angelika Rinnhofer. Angelika exhibited her incredible photographs done in such a way as to resemble Renaissance and Baroque oil paintings. I was awestruck. Her photos were incredibly like fine oil paintings. What I loved most was her symbolism and use of contradiction. She had laptops and watches and modern jewelry very carefully placed in a way that they did not stand out, but felt like part of the natural setting - representing a link between past and present. She used ordinary people posed as Renaissance Upper Class. She used modern ideas like plastic surgery represented in an old fashion pose. Very fascinating work.

Back to the reason for mentioning this - we got to partake in the opening reception food and wine (no cost involved). Very nice way to spend a Sunday. I immediately got my glass of Beringer Sauvignon Blanc (that was what was being poured) and a prosciutto and cream cheese and spinach pinwheel rollup and planted myself in front of this artist's amazing work.

I shall close with Angelika's quote about her current series she's completing (suicides of famous Americans):

"I show our society's elite inhabitants, immersed in their wealth and power with myriad possessions and exquisite taste, but nonetheless, miserable and unhappy . . . Here is where publicity's promise of happiness through envy and glamour is proven wrong."

Angelika Rinnhofer, Artist
http://www.angelikarinnhofer.com/


7.5 out of 10 alone, easily could be an 8.0 out of 10 with the right accompaniment
$10 / 750 ml bottle