Issue N o 3. Est. 1926

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1 Issue N o 3 THE WINE PRESS Chardonnay Every Way Est NUGGET MARKETS Your Guide to Our Most Popular Varietal 2011

2 Chardonnay Every Which Way Everything you ever wanted to know about our most popular varietal Now why would we do an entire Wine Press on Chardonnay? Because not only is it our most popular varietal of wine (BY FAR!), there are enough different expressions of Chardonnay from around the world to make this a very compelling issue. Cultivated in virtually every winegrowing region, Chardonnay is a varietal that let s say adapts well. Others might say that it lends itself to manipulation, but that is not a bad thing in the hands of all the talented winemakers across the planet; their interpretations of this grape are endless. The combinations resulting from different regions with different soils and different Chardonnay clones are just the tip of the iceberg. Once the grapes make it to the winery, the complexity only increases through the yeast types, fermentation vessels and oak treatments (don t get me started on oak barrels ). You get the picture. Let s just say it is always interesting to see what is produced at the other end. The ancestral home of Chardonnay is in Burgundy, France specifically the Maconnais sub-region. We do have a basic Macon Villages wine in this issue, as well as a Chablis and a basic Bourgogne Blanc. These are not Grand Cru Chardonnays by any stretch, but if you have not tasted one of these wines, I invite you to do so. And if you can enjoy them with a meal, that s even better, since their acidity refreshes the palate. Four Vines Naked No-Oak Chardonnay "Naked" as in "without oak". Fermented in stainless steel, this wine has not seen any wood. It was also NOT put through malolactic fermentation (that would convert malic acid to lactic), so it retains its crisp apple flavors. Pure, bright, beautiful, unhindered and unclothed. The winery says, "Eat oysters and drink Naked." Sounds great to me! 750 ml. California (Santa Barbara) Joel Gott Un-Oaked Working with the same vineyard for over a decade, Joel and his team have fine tuned this wine. Several Dijon Chardonnay clones are fermented separately, tasted, and then blended. He is striving for a Burgundy Chablis style: bright, no oak, high acid, refreshing. Taste it next to the William Fevre (also featured) and see if he hit the mark. 750 ml The very best Chardonnays come from cool regions (like Burgundy). California has a lot of wonderful areas for Chardonnay, many of which are represented in this issue: Russian River Valley, Carneros, Santa Barbara, Monterey, Sonoma and Napa. Since this grape is a true global traveler, we have also found great wines from Italy, Australia and Chile. Closer to home, there are beautiful offerings from Oregon and Washington. Speaking of the varietal s versatility, Blanc de Blanc sparkling wines are usually made 100% from Chardonnay, and we have an outstanding one in this issue. And for those of you who are interested in alternative packaging, we even have Chardonnays in boxes and in a can. A fun theme for a party or wine tasting is to purchase Chardonnays from all the different regions and taste them open or blind (the wine is covered, not your eyes) to see which ones you like best. Because of the 10% discount we offer on six or more 750ml bottles, you can buy a 6-pack, enjoy them, and then come back to stock up on your favorites. After all, these excellent prices will be good through June, while supplies last. Hank Beal Director of Adult Beverages 2009 Kopriva Un-Oaked From a small family-owned-andfarmed grower in Carneros- Sonoma (Carneros lies in both Napa and Sonoma). A growing number of Chardonnays never see any oak. Experience the flavor of beautiful Carneros fruit before it is played with in the winery. Think green apples, pineapple and peaches. Rating: 90 points (Wine Enthusiast). 750 ml. California (Sonoma, Carneros) Morgan Metallico Our bestselling un-oaked Chardonnay that's over 10. The aromatics, intense fruit, and bright acidity are its goals. This vintage is composed of fruit from the Santa Lucia Highlands and Arroyo Seco appellations. The climate in Arroyo Seco is slightly warmer than at the Highlands estate, creating a more floral Chardonnay with rich tropical fruit. 750 ml

3 Chardonnay from France Chardonnay from France Louis Jadot Mâcon Villages This wine is from the Macconais region of Burgundy, which is the birthplace of Chardonnay. All stainless steel fermented dry, easy to drink, lively and charming, this is a fruity wine with a floral scent and a hint of lemon. The Mâcon Villages should be drunk chilled and rather young. 750 ml. France (Burgundy) Bouchard Bourgogne Blanc The Bouchard family has been in this region for almost 300 years. The greatest Chardonnays in the world come from the Grand Cru vineyards throughout the Cote de Beaune. Though not Grand Cru, this wine is a blend from vineyards throughout the region, giving you an inexpensive and worthwhile glimpse of this area's potential. 750 ml. France (Burgundy) William Fèvre Chablis- Champs Royeaux A great introduction to Chablis! 100% Chardonnay, with no oak influence. It is not from a single vineyard, but from a number of terrific sites in the appellation, vinified in precisely the same manner as Fèvre's top wines. Lean, minerally and very bracing, it is exactly what you want from high-end Chablis, without the high price! 750 ml. France (Chablis) Domaine de Bernier Unusual, as this part of the Loire (or the Loire in general) is not known for Chardonnay. But this wine has been a huge hit with those looking for a crisp, clean wine with bright fruit and great acidity. Made 90% in glass tanks, and the other 10% in 1- to 3-year-old oak barrels. (The oak is not apparent.) Pair with shellfish, chicken or hard cheeses. 750 ml. France ( Loire)

4 Chardo nay from Italy Chardonnay from Australia Castella Della Sala Bramito 100% Chardonnay and aged for only 5 months in French oak, this wine is straw yellow in color, with golden tinges. It has a fruity aroma with clear varietal characteristics and hints of vanilla and toasty notes. Beautifully structured and elegant, with great minerality. 12.5% alcohol. 750 ml. Italy ( Umbria) McWilliam's This has just a slight touch of oak (at this price you can't use 1,000 barrels) to add some complexity and a touch of vanilla to the melon and tropical fruit flavors. It pairs wonderfully with grilled chicken. 750 ml. Australia (Southeastern) Chardonnay from Chile Errazuriz Wild Ferment The best lots of grapes use only the wild yeast for fermentation. This is a much slower fermentation and allows for more flavor development. Very complex, with layers of tropical fruit and strong minerality. There is definitely a toastiness from oak aging. This Chardonnay gives you something different in each sip. 750 ml. Chile (Casablanca Chardonnay from Washington Columbia Crest H3 Horse Heaven Hills Chardonnay is the most widely planted grape in Washington for a reason; they can produce great wines at great values. This wine is consistently labeled a "Best Buy" by Wine Advocate (Robert Parker) and Wine Spectator. A full-bodied Chardonnay, but not over the top with oak and butter; it will still pair with food. 750 ml. Washington (Columbia) Chardonnay from Oregon A to Z Oregon is definitely cool and a good region for Chardonnay (not to mention Pinot Gris). They are using the ideal Dijon clones and doing everything right to produce world-class Chardonnay. A classic Oregon steely wine, with a long, clean finish and lingering mineral and citrus notes, this is the bestselling Oregon Chardonnay in America. 750 ml. Oregon

5 Chardonnay from California Chardonnay from California Sean Minor Four Bears Sean is a local guy who has held posts with many companies, including the foothills' Renwood winery. Now his passion is using the best fruit to make the best wine at a reasonable price. (He is on to something!) Medium bodied with some oak aging and partial malolactic fermentation, this wine is a tweener not too oaky, but not too lean. 750 ml. California (Central Coast) Chateau St. Jean You will be hard pressed to find a Sonoma Chardonnay at a better price. This classic wine displays bright aromas of lemon cream, mango and notes of toasted hazelnut. It has a subtle elegance, with a lingering finish. 750 ml. California (Sonoma) Wente Morning Fog Wente was the first winery to produce a wine in California labeled as Chardonnay. The morning fog that rolls in from the San Francisco Bay cools the vineyard. This allows for longer hang time on the vines and more varietal flavor. 750 ml. California ( Livermore Valley, San Francisco Bay) Lincourt The nose features the minerality of the cool-climate grapes and the more tropical scents associated with warmer climes. The palate is a blend of apples, lemons, toasted almonds and vanilla. 19 months of aging in French oak (20% new barrels). 750 ml. California (Santa Barbara)

6 Chardonnay from Russian River Valley Chardonnay from Napa Picket Fence Can you tell we like the Russian River appellation? There are three representatives in this issue for a reason. They are usually very complex and retain excellent acidity from the cool influence of the Russian River Valley bringing in the ocean air. In the Picket Fence case, these guys even night harvest to further preserve the fruit and acidity. 750 ml Sparrow Hawk This has become somewhat of our House Chardonnay at Nugget, and we love the balance in this wine. If you are tired of over-oaked wines, but you still want a little bit, this is the one for you. 750 ml Artesa This wine hits a sweet spot between oak and stainless steel fermentation. It was 65% barrel fermented in French oak (25% new wood) and 35% fermented in stainless steel to achieve a balance of fruit and toasted oak character. Also, 50% of the wine underwent a secondary malolactic fermentation, plumping up the mouthfeel. 750 ml. California ( Napa, Carneros) Migration From the folks that own Duckhorn winery. I love the winemaker notes here: "Meyer lemon, white fig, and almond blossom aromatics, alongside a subtle oak-inspired [10 months of French] note of pie crust." Sounds like a lemon meringue pie. Who doesn't like pie? 750 ml J Vineyards This wine is a beauty that has pronounced vanilla influence from 100% barrel fermentation in French oak (40% new wood). One way the winemaker gets added complexity is the blending of 25 different lots to make this wine. If possible, this wine feels very full but at the same time has a lot of elegance. 1 liter Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Karia "Karia" means "graceful"... a perfect description. This wine is light and refreshing on the palate, with just a touch (or as the winery says a "kiss") of oak. "Combines subtlety and finesse, with smooth ripe pear, melon, ginger, spice and hazelnut flavors that are rich and full-bodied without being heavy." Rating: 92 points (Wine Spectator)750 ml. California ( Napa) 2008 William Hill "The '08 William Hill Chard possesses a crisp, elegant, fresh, minimally oaked style in addition to subtle notions of tropical fruit, pear and citrus blossoms." Rating: 88 points (Robert Parker Jr.). 750 ml. California ( Napa)

7 Chardonnay Every Which Way Schramsberg Blanc de Blanc From the French, Blanc de Blanc translates to "white from white". And the white grape is surprise! Chardonnay. These are usually leaner and more crisp than the more full-bodied Blanc de Noirs, which contain more Pinot Noir. This one is a classic! 750 ml. California ( Napa) Flasq OK, I did not see this coming, but I've heard they sell wine in cans in Australia. But this one is a Nor Cal local... the fruit comes from Monterey and is packaged in St. Helena. If you're hiking or going anywhere that a glass bottle is a problem, this is perfect! Typical tropical flavors of the Monterey appellation in a 100%-recyclable can. 375 ml Black Box We love to show that good wine can come in all kinds of packages. The best thing about the bag-in-a-box is that the wine stays fresh. The plastic bag inside collapses as the wine is used up, so no air gets in and less oxidation occurs; the wine stays fresh for weeks, especially in the refrigerator. 3 liter The prices in this publication are effective from May 1, 2011 to June 30, 2011, while supplies last. Subject to availability. Not all items are available at all stores. We reserve the right to correct all printed or typographical errors. No rain checks.