99 Vines Chardonnay

TASTING NOTES:
This Chardonnay is pale yellow in color and has a distinct citrus bouquet with hints of apple as well.  On the palate, this wine is nicely balanced with a medium body.  Tastes of apple, lemon, and pineapple are present with just a hint of banana.  It’s dry finish is nice and refreshing.  This would make a great pair with Shrimp Scampi or an Alfredo based dish, or even a good evening sipping wine!

ABOUT 99 VINES:
99 Vines Winery is located in the heart of California’s wine country, where the vineyards that produce some of America’s favorite wines surround Highway 99.

Wine: Chateau Julien Royalty Red

Overall, I always try to showcase great wines that present great values. Today, I’m showcasing the great value. Chateau Julien is a production house of nice wines at very nice price points. They are not great wines, but pleasant and quaffable with good balance that allows the most novice wine drinker to be pleased.

Their Royalty Red is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot. Jammy, expansive sensations of blackberries and currents on the fore of the tongue give way to fresh dark fruit sensations on mid-palate blending with bright red cherries yielding to a simple, light finish of light white pepper sensations.

Pairing recommendations for this light red wine would be grilled salmon, or roasted chicken with ample salt and light pepper preparations on either.

Note: If you can’t tell, I’m not overly excited about this particular wine. That does not mean it is not a good value, but I find it very simple and understated with the appearance of some shortcuts on the wine maker’s part. This is a wine I recommend for people looking a wine that is fruity with the mental bend to make it seem sweet. This is not a wine for those looking the big, bold red, this is much more a wine to bring people from the realms of moscato/muscadine/Riesling/ sweet wines into the world of reds as part of an evolution in their tasting experiences.