Wine By Nine

White Wine by Maximin Grunhauser from Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany. Extremely spicy and fruity smell of peach and hints of black currant - typical for wines from the Abtsberg in great years. A wine packed with fruit and minerality, powerful and elegant at the same time. Food pairings: An excellent accompaniment to pates and other savory foods as well as desserts, such as souffles of fresh fruits, e.g. strawberries, raspberries or rhubarb.

White Wine by Comte Lafond from Loire, France - regions. Pale golden-green. Remarkable and aromatic intensity on the nose. Floral notes of white flowers such as hawthorn, acacia, eglantine, and elderflower. This is backed up by blackcurrant buds and wild flowers. It is lively on the palette, with very pleasant acidulous characteristics prolonged by light fruity notes. Full and refreshing, it is dominated by flinty stones and chalk typical of fine Sancerre wines. Food pairing: Shellfish, seafood and goat cheeses

White Wine by Philip Shaw from Australia. A brilliant clear gold color with green highlights. Complex aromas of lemon, spring blossom, and dried fig with notes of grapefruit. Delightfully refreshing! The palate delivers racey fruit with a mineral spine, creamy oak, cashews, and pear with a long elegant lemon acidity. Firm but not hard, velvet. She is a gorgeous elegant young lady, sure to age gracefully. No.11 is my dream Chardonnay plot. It slopes to the south, away from the sun making it one of the coolest sites in the vineyard - ideal for Chardonnay. - Philip Shaw

White Wine by Catena from Argentina, South America. In an effort to produce a super premium wine, the winemaking team of Catena began in depth investigations into the yields within each of their specially selected, high altitude vineyards, identifying those lots which produce the best fruit. These vines undergo a careful thinning process, leaving only a select few clusters, resulting in remarkably complex, aromatic and flavorful fruit. Through the application of natural, gentle vinification techniques, these grapes are transformed into Catena Alta. The 2005 Catena Alta Chardonnay has a bright yellow - greenish color. The nose offers white stone fruits with a touch of banana and mango, notes of sweet spice and pan grille. The mouthfeel is full and rich, but with wonderful freshness, showing ripe pear and fig flavors with light notes of tropical fruit and delicate floral tones. The finish is long and lingering with wonderful minerality and clean, crisp acidity.

White Wine by Matanzas Creek from Sonoma County, California. A first glimpse of the wine reveals a pale, straw color, quite typical for a sophisticated Chardonnay. The first nose brings a delicate blend of green apple, white peach, and acacia flower, with a surprising addition of the autumn fruits pear and quince. After a swirl, the second nose reveals a more mineral note of crushed stones, the mark of an exceptional Chardonnay. The palate is round and velvety with a prolonged, flavorful finish of honey and melon. There is also a unique and subtle hint of smoke, derived from basalt, an ancient ocean floor rock found in Bennett Valley's soil. Although this Chardonnay was crafted with 95% malolactic fermentation, it is far from a heavy, buttery wine. Fran?ois strives to create an elegant wine which is expressly crafted to complement the food. In addition, he is able to preserve the fullest potential of the Chardonnay fruit by employing a Champagne-style vinification that is gentle on the fruit during crush and prevents any bitter note in the finish. If allowed to age, this wine promises to further increase in minerality and develop a luscious, butterscotch character.

White Wine by Jordan from Russian River, California. In Jordan's cellar, free-run quality juice was extracted from the cool, handpicked grapes using their new, technologically advanced Willmes press. Among other benefits, this press extracts juice at very low pressure in a short period of time; the result is an ultra-premium juice that is very low in bitter and astringent tannins. Fermentation occurred in small French oak barrels (37% new) and aged with extended sur lie contact for five months to add an understated, creamy texture to the mid-palate. Partial malolactic fermentation permitted the wine to retain its natural, crisp acidity - a hallmark of Russian River Valley fruit. This acidity contributes to the mineral flintiness and clean finish of the wine. The citrus and mineral bouquet includes delicate aromas of crisp green apple, kiwi, honey and lightly toasted oak. The balance of green apple fruit and crisp acidity provides lasting flavors that will complement the table fare of any home or restaurant.

White Wine by Chateau St. Jean from Sonoma County, California. Classic winemaking techniques such as sur lie aging for 17 months are used for this wine. Each lot is kept separate throughout the winemaking process and aged in 100% French oak (57% new). A barrel selection from each lot is made to craft the final blend. Due to the large percentage of Robert Young Vineyard Chardonnay in this blend, only 50% of the final blend underwent malolactic fermentation as the Robert Young Chardonnay component is kept a nonmalolactic wine. This medium-bodied Reserve Chardonnay opens with pleasing aromas of Bosc pear, lemon candy and nutmeg. Unctuous notes of creamy lemon bar and kiwi fruit are backed by subtle hints hazelnut, baking spice and mineral characters. The well-balanced acidity and complexity of flavors lead to a lengthy lemon oil finish. - Margo Van Staaveren, Winemaker

White Wine by Rochioli from Russian River, California. This Sauvignon Blanc possesses the typical Rochioli character and the classic Russian River Valley charm. Fifty-eight percent is from their sixteen-year-old hillside vineyard and twenty-eight percent is from their newest planting of a very special and rare clone. Only twenty percent of this blend is barrel fermented which gives this wine its complexity and round texture. The rest is tank fermented to preserve its intense varietal character and firm acidity Color: Pale, creamy yellow. Aroma: Aromas of grapefruit with a touch of grass and flinty characteristics. Taste:An intense, complex and richly flavored wine. Green-gold. Racy, sharply focused aromas of lime, orange zest and talc, with a zesty, peppery accent. Medium-bodied and chewy, with concentrated orange and Meyer lemon flavors and a lush, round quality on the lengthy finish. These vines were planted in 1959, according to Rochioli, and that's why it always has real body and texture in addition to the usual freshness I like in sauvignon blanc. -International Wine Cellar

White Wine by Tablas Creek from Central Coast, California. Blend: 70% Roussanne, 25% Grenache Blanc, 5% Picpoul Blanc The 2005 Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc is a vibrant expression of the terroir of Tablas Creek. It shows aromas of honeysuckle, mint, lemon peel and spice, with rich Roussanne flavors of honey, rose petals, pear, petrol and white flowers, excellent breadth, cleansing acidity and great length. It should drink well when young but will also reward time in bottle; it is expected to show beautifully for at least the next 5-7 years. Food pairings: Cooked shellfish (lobster, softshell crab, shrimp); roasted or grilled vegetables (eggplant, asparagus, peppers); foods cooked with garlic and olive oil; rich fish dishes (i.e., salmon, swordfish); Asian stir fry

White Wine by Tablas Creek from Central Coast, California. Blend: 65% Roussanne, 30% Grenache Blanc, 5% Picpoul Blanc The 2004 Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc is a vibrant expression of the terroir of Tablas Creek, with aromas of honeysuckle, pear, spice and mineral, flavors of caramel apple, lemon peel and honey, excellent breadth and a long clean finish. It will drink well when young but should also show beautifully for at least the next 5-7 years. Food pairings: Cooked shellfish (lobster, softshell crab, shrimp); roasted or grilled vegetables (eggplant, asparagus, peppers); foods cooked with garlic and olive oil; rich fish dishes (salmon, swordfish); Asian stir fry

White Wine by Livio Felluga from Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy. Appearance: Straw yellow with golden hues Nose: Elegant, ample and complex with notes of wild rose and acacia flowers; hints of tropical fruit, peach, apricot, licorice, anise and white pepper Palate: Elegant, full, with good acidic balance; excellent retro-nasal aromatics; persistent aftertaste with spicy notes of peach, apricot and bergamot Serving suggestions: A particolarly good match for fish, seafood starters, risottos and baked vegetables. This fresh Pinot Grigio gains its complexity from a range of fruit flavors - high notes of lemon-lime and light pear to deeper nectarine. The fruit impressions shift like sunlight through passing clouds. Decant it for roast Cornish game hens stuffed with Meyer lemons. Wine & Spirits 92 Points

White Wine by Cakebread from Napa Valley, California. Intense melon and citrus fruit aromas with delicate floral and herbal notes and a slight touch of oak are confirmed on this wine's vibrantly fruity palate, which shows a refined acidity balanced by a crisp texture.