Willakenzie Estate Willamette Valley Chardonnay, 2018

Some but not all of the grapes for this Willakenzie Chardonnay are grown on the estate in the Yamhill-Carlton area, known for its Willakenzie soil But all come from the Willamette Valley, and the wine, selling for about $30, is a relative bargain (the Estate Cuvee is $75). I bought some for half price a few years ago when the merchant was apparently worried about selling a Chardonnay with almost five years of age. No need to worry with this wine even at age 8 to 10.

Full lemon yellow. Lemon curd, white peaches, sea salt with floral notes. Legs clinging to the glass indicate good viscosity and body. But cool rather than warm (13.5% alcohol). Rich mouth feel with mineral-laden flavors that seem to expand with each sip. Finish is broad as well as long. One of my favorite Oregon Chardonnays.
 

Reserve del Puech Vieilles Vignes Cotes du Rhone, 2022

This Reserve del Puech reminds me of the many great Cotes du Rhone wines that I enjoyed in the 1980s and 1990s. And at less than $10, it is priced similarly.

Medium ruby, bright and clear. 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 10% Carignan. Fresh fruit smells. Raspberry, blueberry with hints of anise seed. Firm but friendly tannins with a peppery finish. Excellent balance
 

Jean Michel Gerin Syrah La Champine, 2013

Jean Michel Gerin has prime land in Cote Rotie, and his Cote Rotie wines sell for $150 to $225 a bottle. Some of the grapes for this Syrah La Champine come from young vines on Gerin's property but most come from nearby Ardeche, hardly as prestigious. I bought a case of La Champine from Saratoga Wine Exchange for $144 ($12 a bottle). Perhaps the wine had less value on the market because the winemaker, on the label, advised drinking "now and during the next 5 years." But it sold out at that price and I am very pleased with my purchase.

Syrah dark, all the way to the rim. Black fruit, cassis and a touch of black olives on the finish. Just what I like in French Syrah. Matured 12 months in old oak barrels (similar to my prized Domaine Thalabert wines from the 1980s that are still drinking beautifully). Don't get me wrong; this is not Domaine Thalabert quality, but it has good fruit, good acidity and developing complexity on the finish. I like it.
 

Shingleback The Davey Estate McLaren Vale Shiraz, 2011

I paid $10 to WineBid back in December 2022 for this McLaren Vale Shiraz. Tonight, I am getting at least twice that much pleasure.

Impressively deep red with purple tones. After a gentle pressing, the wine was aged in a combination of French oak and "fine grained American oak" for 14 months. Even so, the wine is showing a strong fruit presence with minimal oak influence on the smells or flavors. Blackberries, boysenberries--ripe up front and carrying nicely to the medium long finish. Some heat from the 14. 5% alcohol. Under a screw cap, this wine has maintained its youthful fruit very well over 15 years.

Chateau Canon (Canon Fronsac), 1990

This 1990 Bordeaux from the satellite appellation of Canon-Fronsac, is past its prime but still drinking reasonably well.

Lots of amber in the color and not very bright. Smells are lively and pretty. Dark fruit. With a couple of hours of aeration, sweet Merlot flavors emerge. Not much acid, not much tannin at this stage and not very complex. Modestly priced wines from the 1980s and early 1990s probably did not have best conditions for transport and storage.
 

Elke Blue Diamond Donnelly Creek Anderson Valley Pinot Noir, 2013

I have had many excellent Pinot Noir wines from Mary Elke's Donnelly Creek Vineyard--the 2006 and 2009 Ici la-Bas and earlier vintages of this Blue Diamond. When Mary was selling out prior to closing shop, I was an eager buyer of this and her Boonville Barter.

Medium cherry red. Very aromatic--red cherries, flowers, a touch of licorice. Ripe fruit with enough acidity to keep it fresh and lively. Probably at its peak now, but I suspect, from past experience, it will stay there another three to five years, maybe longer.
 

Vola Schiava Vigneti delle Dolomites, NV

This is a wine, new to me, that showed up last week on the shelves of my local Trader Joe's. The label indicated "red wine" but through the clear bottle it appeared very light, almost rose. I have had Schiava before and figured it was a good buy at $6.99. And it was.

Very light ruby. Magical scents of red raspberries, ripe strrawberries, spring flowers. And more of the same on the tongue. Donna likes white and rose wines to be well chilled so I put this in the refrigerator for 10 to 15 minutes. As an aperitif wine, it was very good at that temperature, but as it warmed through the meal, light tannins began to emerge, expanding the ripe, fruity flavors. This is not a wine for those who like them "big"; it is deliberately small and decidedly delicious.