With a fantastic chicken dish (rotisserie chicken with a "salsa" of white Italian beans, fresh herbs, fresh corn, tomatoes, vinegar: 2006 Elizabeth Spencer "Wente Clone" Sonoma Coast Chardonnay.
Chardonnay is not my favorite varietal, normally. This negociant house, however, consistently produces a wonderful range of balanced, food-friendly chards in a variety of styles. This version has more oak than their usual, and said oak remarkably melded with the acidity of the salsa. Not that the wine itself is lacking in acidity-it has beautiful tropical citrus fruit and a blast of acidity. A touch of bitter on the finish is not really a problem-it adds another note. Great wine!
With dinner at Waterboy in Sacramento on Friday night. I snagged a bottle from my collection. 2005 Casaeda Napa Valley Syrah. This is Karen Culler's "second" wine, and it is steal. Dark purple in color. Nice nose of big berry fruit, earth, and a meatyness- with alcohol not obtrusive. These characteristics carry through on the palate-great rich black fruit with an earthy base and a hint of...pacetta? Very very good QPR ($18!) and it went well with the rustic autumnal dinners. After a 75 mile bicycle ride, we deserved this dinner and this wine. (They even comped our corkage, because they forgot a desert!)