WTN: 2001 Pine Ridge, Paradise Ridge Chard

Wine Styles tasting last night featured Paradise Ridge Winery, from Santa Rosa in Sonoma County, an under-the-radar producer that the partners are fond of. John Chandler, one of my regular wine drinking friends, provided a bottle of 2007 Chardonnay. This is made in the oaky, banana-y, tropical style, but where it succeeds (versus a Rombauer) is the bracing acidity and mineral savoryness. The wine was almost TANGY, and in a good way. For some reason, the balance of flavors went well with Mexican food...another friend had given me a beef-based appetizer and weirdly enough the Chardonnay seemed to rock with the food! Beef and Chardonnay!!!??? It's hard to get past that California Oak Bomb nose, but the wine is quite drinkable once you tip the glass. 87 points.

2001 Pine Ridge Stag's Leap Cabernet Sauvignon. I've had mixed experience with Pine Ridge wines...a couple of tastings I renamed the bottles "Oak Ridge." The last time I stopped by the winery, however, I really liked their lineup of (too expensive ) appellation-labeled cabernets. Cellartracker posters have been mixed on this bottling, with some claiming it "over the hill," but we quite enjoyed it. Unlike the Chardonnay, this wine was all about the nose. There was wonderful tobacco and the cherry Stags Leap District fruit which I find appealing. The only flaw on the nose is there is a bit of fumeyness if you sniff the wrong way . On the palate, the fruit is somewhat more muted, but still definitely there. Mouth feel is rather light and elegant. I would not say it is dead at all...just balanced and elegant. John Chandler commented on how the wine provides the fruit but does not go over the top into jamminess. This wine is a food wine, even. It suggests a nice beef or even maybe a more flavorful chicken dish. 88/89 points. Very nice.