| The Monterey wine region of California, due East of Carmel, is known for important red wines. The white wines, especially Riesling, are making news as well. Enjoy any of the following.
Crosspoint Chardonnay, Monterey 2002
Price $11.99
Rating 89
There is a balance of crisp, earthy flavors of white fruit and maybe melon.
Crosspoint is a distinct wine operation under the umbrella of J. Lohr Winery.
"Produced from world class, cold climate Monterey County grapes," says Jerry Lohr, "a combination of Chardonnay clones including the very floral Chardonnay musque clone from France are night harvested, field crushed, pressed and settled overnight. In creating these wines, a different approach to winemaking is undertaken, which had its genesis in recent visits to Australia and the United Kingdom. In this new paradigm, winemaking is stepping back and letting the grape variety take the forefront. The majority of the Chardonnay is stainless steel fermented at cool temperatures to retain the abundant Monterey County Chardonnay fruit characteristics and a much smaller portion is barrel fermented, lees stirred and aged for up to 7 months to provide a richer palate feel with some very attractive, refined, perfumed fruit aromas."
Brightly balanced with crisp acidity and luscious texture, this white is perfect for chicken roasted with garlic, lemon and rosemary. For further details, go to www.jlohr.com.
Jekel Riesling, Monterey 2003
Price $11.99
Rating 92
Bracing crispness with only 1.1% residual sugar, the sip is full of green apple, lime and complex minerality.
Jekel Vineyards, founded in 1972, is recognized as one of the early pioneers
in crafting world-class wines from Monterey County. Since their first
vintage in 1978, they have built an international following for critically
acclaimed, super-premium Rieslings, in addition to their other selections.
Learn more at www.jekel.com.
Jekel “Gravelstone” Chardonnay, Monterey 2002
Price $11.99
Rating 89
Not overly oaked, the sip leads with clean, crisp flavors of white fruit.
Morgan Chardonnay, Monterey 2003
Price $18
Rating 93
Crisp, bright, not overly oaked, the fruit is ripe, complex and balanced.
The length is long.
“One first notes a pale straw gold color with excellent clarity in the
glass,” suggests owner Dan Morgan Lee. “Bright, green apple, pear, and
tropical fruit aromas with toasty and fresh butter notes are noted around
the edges. On the palate, the richness of texture is perfectly offset by the
crisp acidity and brightness of the fruit flavors.”
Morgan focuses on Burgundian varietals from Monterey's Santa Lucia
Highlands. For more information, visit www.morganwinery.com.
Morgan "Double L" Chardonnay, Santa Lucia 2002
Price $32
Rating 94
Beautiful fruit ripeness, full-frontal, complex oak is this wine's
signature.
“Richly textured flavors of apple, pear, creamy vanilla and mineral/earth
notes are present,” adds owner Dan Lee Morgan. “The cool climate influence
is apparent with the bright, food friendly acidity. The finish shows
excellent length, with fruit, acidity, and texture in balance and a
lingering minerality.”
Paraiso Vineyards Riesling, Santa Lucia 2003
Price $14.99
Rating 92
Good mineral leads the complexity curve, followed by subtle green apple.
This is consistently one of the finest Rieslings made in America.
The rugged Santa Lucia Mountains frame Monterey's County's fertile Salinas
Valley on the west, separating it from the Pacific Ocean. The vines of this
unique hillside district enjoy cooling ocean breezes and fog from nearby
Monterey Bay. The resulting slow, gentle ripening contributes to
California's longest “hang time” — creating exceptional intensity,
complexity, and balance in the grapes. Discover more at
www.paraisovineyards.com.
Paraiso Vineyards Riesling, Santa Lucia 2003
Price $14.99
Rating 92
Good mineral leads the complexity curve, followed by subtle green apple.
This is consistently one of the finest Rieslings made in America.
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