Wine By Nine

White Wine by Beringer from Napa Valley, California. The Sbragia Limited Release Chardonnay represents the selection of the selection. The vineyards Ed Sbragia customarily chooses to use in his Private Reserve Chardonnay are located around the town of Yountville where daytime temperatures slowly climb as the cooling morning fog recedes south to the San Pablo Bay. This significant diurnal shift allows the grapes to maintain their acidity, which is essential to balancing the ripe, rich flavors they develop during warm afternoons. One of these vineyards, Gamble Ranch, consistently provides flavors that Winemaster Ed Sbragia calls unctuous, and in 2005, he decided that this fruit would be ideal for his 2005 Sbragia Limited Release Chardonnay. The wine has a pretty yellow gemstone color, luscious aromas of brown spice, lemon peel, tarte tatin, butterscotch and brown spice that lead into a rich and creamy mouthfeel showcasing grilled pineapple, brown spice, crisp apples and citrus peel flavors. With a wine with my name on it you know that its got to be my signature style, big, with more and more aromas and flavors that invite you back. In the 2005 vintage, gorgeous aromas of citrus and butterscotch greet the nose as rich flavors of lemon, creme br?lee and spice fill the mouth and linger throughout a long and saturated finish. Enjoy! -Winemaster, Ed Sbragia

White Wine by Cakebread from Napa Valley, California. Cakebread Cellars' Napa Valley Chardonnay is light straw in color with a glint of gold. Its aromas are reminiscent of green apples and the faint scent of apricots with a clean scent of mineral suggestive of flint. These impressions are repeated on the palate with a very slight buttery finish and a subtle hint of French oak vanillin in the background. Good depth with an ideal balance of fruit and crisp acidity lead into a fresh, silky finish.

White Wine by Beringer from Napa Valley, California. Each Chardonnay lot was kept separate throughout the aging process to retain the individual flavor characteristics. After gentle crushing, Winemaker Laurie Hook fermented the juice in French oak barrels (77 percent new) to enhance the natural richness in the wine. The lees were stirred weekly to develop a nutty-toasty character and fully integrate the oak flavors, encouraging a good balance. All of the wines were put through malolactic fermentation to encourage a lush creaminess. After 9 months aging, Winemaster Ed Sbragia and Winemaker Laurie chose the richest, most expressive lots and blended them to create an intensely aromatic and flavorful wine featuring lemon zest, sweet vanilla, baked apple and spicy oak aromas layered with rich flavors of pineapple, and hints of minerality and spice that lead into a long and bright citrus-infused finish.

White Wine by Grgich Hills from Napa Valley, California. Since 1977, Grgich Hills has crafted a food-friendly Chardonnay with crispness and acidity to balance the wine's concentrated fruit. They do not allow the Chardonnay to undergo malolactic fermentation in order to preserve the beautiful acidity and intense fruit that they worked so hard to produce in the vineyard. This elegant Chardonnay has luscious aromas of baked pear, lychee nuts and wild honey with a full and rich mouthfeel and a long finish. The bright acidity and balance of oak and body make it the perfect partner for grilled or roasted seafood, chicken and pork.

White Wine by Grgich Hills from Napa Valley, California. The Wine News Chardonnay of the Year! A classy Chardonnay in every respect, offering enticing aromas of acacia blossom, ripe Meyer lemon, honeysuckle, a touch of minerality and a modest dusting of French oak. Full bodied and elegant on the palate with excellent acid balance and expansive flavors of citrus, pear, quince, green apple and spice, this crisp, complex, food-friendly wine remains lively in the mouth, thanks to the absence of malolactic fermentation and the judicious use of French oak (one-third new); long, lemony close. This is the first vintage that our Chardonnay is estate grown, meaning we control everything from the vineyard to the bottle. The grapes were grown organically at our American Canyon and Carneros vineyards, where the coolness allows the grapes to develop complex flavors while maintaining a pleasing natural acidity. We do not allow the Chardonnay to undergo malolactic fermentation. This preserves the wine's crispness and acidity to balance its concentrated fruit. Our full-bodied, elegant Chardonnay has fresh aromas of acacia and citrus flowers, honey and a touch of mineral. All of our vineyards are biodynamically farmed, an agricultural philosophy that incorporates all of the elements of organic farming, using no artificial pesticides, fertilizers, or fungicides. Additionally, it treats the Earth as a living organism and utilizes nature's basic life forces to bring about balance between the grapevines and the Earth.

White Wine by Stag's Leap Wine Cellars from Napa Valley, California. The name KARIA (kar'-ee-ah) is derived from a Greek word meaning graceful, and it is this very character that Stag's Leap Wine Cellars seek most in this wine. With stylistic inspiration coming specifically from their Arcadia Vineyard Chardonnay, the wine is refreshing, light and graceful on the palate, with bright acidity supporting ripe fruit flavors and a butterfly kiss of oak. Inviting aromas of white peach, apple, spiced pear, and citrus join with floral notes of honeysuckle and roses to create a beautiful bouquet. The fruity aromas carry over to the palate and marry with a subtle creaminess and a touch of warm brioche. This delicate richness makes the 2006 KARIA Chardonnay a versatile wine at the dinner table. Try it with chicken piccata, corn risotto, or a warm goat cheese salad.

White Wine by Trefethen from Napa Valley, California. Trefethen's primary estate vineyard is located in the heart of the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley AVA, which occupies an ideal climate zone between Napa's warmer up-valley districts and its cool southern tip. The marine influence of nearby San Pablo Bay allows their estate Chardonnay grapes to ripen slowly and evenly, developing concentrated flavors while retaining high levels of acidity. Trefethen 2005 Chardonnay exudes beguiling ripe, yellow apple, peach, honeyed citrus and light butter scents, with intriguing hints of anise and tarragon. On the beautifully structured palate, its bright apple, lemon and pineapple flavors boast a refreshing minerality that persists throughout the wine's long, clean finish. This Chardonnay makes a wonderful match for dishes with bold citrus and tarragon flavors. Roasted chicken, veal piccata, lemon fettuccini Alfredo and succulent pork loin are just a few examples.

White Wine by Groth from Napa Valley, California. Long, cool fermentation in a mixture of old and new barrels gives this Chardonnay layers of fruitiness and complexity that result in a wine that is very enjoyable when young or after several years of bottle age. This method of fermentation, in conjunction with whole cluster pressing and sur lie aging add layers of toastiness and creaminess to the wine. Together these components meld together harmoniously to create a balanced wine that is both lively and rich in aroma and flavor. Seared Halibut or any shellfish is a natural with this crisp, well balanced wine. I like to serve the Halibut on a bed of couscous with a saffron-fennel broth. -Kimball Jones, Culinary Director

White Wine by Trinchero from Napa Valley, California. Vista Montone is a cool climate site similar in many ways to nearby Carneros. The grapes from this vineyard are always intense, balanced and well structure. Our 2005 is bright, floral and understated with lemon zest and grilled almonds on the palate and finish. The rich full palate combined with nicely-integrated acidity make the Vista Montone Chardonnay one of the best food Chardonnays available. Scallops and Chardonnay are a natural. Our Chefs favorite - Pan Seared Day Boat Sea Scallops over a Fire Roasted Pumpkin Risotto.

White Wine by Girard from Napa Valley, California. The cooling effect of the marine layer fog at the Western reaches of the Russian River Valley provides excellent growing conditions for Chardonnay grapes. Various vineyards within Dutton Ranch are the primary fruit source for Girard's Chardonnay, with additional fruit coming from La Porte Cochere vineyard. The cooler weather yields higher grape acidity at harvest which helps form the base of Girard's trademark style of bright, clean and non-buttery Chardonnay. The 2006 Russian River Chardonnay exhibits wonderful brightness, clarity and light weight on the palate. The crispness and minerality of the wine makes it a lovely food companion but you will find it to be quite enjoyable on its own. Superb peach and melon aromas with refreshing citrus flavors are accented with hints of toasted nuts and a subtle, rich texture from the sur lies aging.

White Wine by Silverado from Napa Valley, California. Bright clear yellow color. Ripe yellow apple, pear, citrus and mineral aromas. Medium body, silky texture with citrus zest on finish.

White Wine by Flora Springs from Napa Valley, California. The 2005 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay is a perfect combination of all the best growing regions in Napa Valley. It boasts flavors of peach and pear on the palate, with just a hint of pineapple, and the mouthfeel is creamy and luscious. This wine does not undergo malolactic fermentation because of the considerable richness that is inherent in our fruit. It is a delicious wine that pairs beautifully with food or can be enjoyed alone.