Tasting notes and reviews: “We were surprised to find ‘Top Chef’ alum Fabio Viviani’s California wine here (at Grocery Outlet). Here’s their notes: Sweet without Fruitty (lol) Fruity without being overly sugary. We opened this Chardonnay as a bonus tasting, Scott and Zineb are choosing wedding wines. $3.49 at Manteca Grocery Outlet ~ $5.89 elsewhereĢ013 Fabio Viviani Chardonnay, California $4.99 Dry, underlying oak, good everyday chardonnay Tasting notes : Sweet honey on the nose, light mouthfeel. It paired really nicely with the spicy Mediterranean Jack cheese, which Terry called ‘earthy’. Neighbor Steve thought it was more like a Pinot Grigio than a Chardonnay. to be), also really liked this Lodi Chardonnay. Zineb, AKA: the Rockin’ Morrocan (Scott’s D.I.L. Scott didn’t find it too sweet, which many whites are too sweet for him, he liked it. Arvin thought it tasted like apricot right off the tree. Scroll to the end for the rest of these ‘bonus’ winesĢ015 Honeywell & Todd Chardonnay, Lodi $3.99Ĭonnie liked the aroma of apricot and commented that she tasted a touch of honey, Larry agreed but also tasted pear. Honeywell & Todd Chard ~ Pull Cab Sauv ~ Lithos Merlot ~ Botte Malbec I think the sweet lemon is my favorite though. We set out to try as many wines as we could to get reviews for the 20% OFF Wine Sale this week (April 10 – 15, 2017), it’s tough job, but somebody has got to do it!īTW, these Finlandia Spreadable cheeses are amazing! The vanilla bean flavor could pass as frosting, and is great with fresh strawberries. Well, it’s no secret that wine pairs nicely with cheese so during the Marathon Wine Tasting on the Front Porch this week we had plenty of cheese. I’ll tell you a little secret: we actually have regular customers that work at other grocery stores in town that come here just for the cheese. We get so many specialty cheeses in every week at bargain prices, it’s really a great time to be alive. The fridge is often empty, but that drawer never is. There is no need to cellar this very food-friendly wine enjoy it with dinner tonight.Ī few good food pairings would be Grilled Ham and Gouda Sandwiches with Caramelized Onions, Duck Sausage Pizza with Green Onions and Tomato, or Tortellini with Mushroom Carbonara Sauce.I feel pretty comfortable saying I love cheese more than anyone. The color in the glass is a slightly translucent, deep garnet. The flavors of rich red berries are complemented by low oak, moderate tannins, and medium acidity. While suggestions of the traditional earthy and spicy flavors are evident from the old-world varietals, the wine shows its California home in the aromas of raspberry, vanilla, and a hint of dried black cherries. Matchbook’s unusual (for California) vines are from cuttings imported from the Pesquera region of Spain, and, like the Chardonnay, are planted in Dunnigan Hills. In those areas, Tempranillo is characterized by flavors of strawberry, spice, fresh tobacco, and low acidity. Tempranillo is an important grape in Spain, and is widely planted in the northern and central parts of that country.

Serve this wine with Grilled Shrimp with Pineapple Salsa, Cayenne-spiked Crab Cakes, or Baked Trout with Mushrooms. On the palate, there are flavors of baked banana and vanilla with a hint of sweetness, balanced by stone fruit and a crisp, mineral finish. It was night-harvested to retain freshness, and barrel-fermented in two- to five-year-old used barrels, the “old heads” of the wine’s name.Įschewing the heavier oaky/buttery style, this Chardonnay is pale yellow in the glass, and features a delicate nose and velvety mouthfeel. This wine is a blend of 91% Chardonnay from Dunnigan Hills, with the balance from the Russian River Valley. Cederquiest had an auspicious start at Stag’s Leap in 1987, and then moved to De Loach in 1993, where he tripled output. When John and Lane left the company in 2005 to return to more-personalized winemaking, they were joined by Dan Cederquiest to found Crew Wine Company, which produces a variety of wines under the Matchbook, Mossback, Chasing Venus, and Sawbuck labels. Phillips from a family winery of 10 acres and a few cases into a publicly-owned behemoth producing 900,000 cases of wine on 2500 acres, including the best-selling Toasted Head and EXP as well as R.H. Over the course of 20 years, the Giguieres grew R.H.

Phillips Winery in 1983 on land that was part of their family farm in the Dunnigan Hills of northwestern Yolo County, 30 miles east of the more-famous Napa. John Giguiere, with his wife Lane and brother Karl, started R.H. Founded in 2006, Matchbook Wine is owned and operated by a trio of proprietors with an impressive resumé in the wine business.

Matchbook winery