I highly recommend the following:

2011 Blanco Nieva –Verdejo – Rueda/Spain  ($15.99)

2011 Chiroulet “Terres Blanches” – 50% Gros Manseng, 40% Sauvignon Blanc, 10% Ugni Blanc Cotes De Gascogne/France  ($10.99)

2010 Dutton-Goldfield “Dutton Ranch” – Chardonnay – Russian River/California  $29.99

2011 Eidosela –Albarino -Rias Baixas/Spain  ($12.99)

2011 J. Hofstatter-Pinot Grigio -Sudtirol-Alto Adige/Italy  ($15.99)

2011 Lieu Dit – Sauvignon Blanc – Santa Ynez/California   ($21.99)

2011 Moulin de Gassac “Picpoul de Pinet” – Languedoc/France  ($12.99)

2010 Jean-Baptiste Ponsot – Rully “Montpalais” – Burgundy/France  ($21.99)

Enjoy!

Gary M., Beltramo’s Wine Consultant

This is a situation that may be all too familiar to many of our Rombauer loving customers and not only here at Beltramo’s. Every summer, due to strict store allocations and massive consumer demand, Rombauer Chardonnay has a tendency to dry up and disappear until the Fall, leaving many Rombauer Chard loyalists longing for their favorite creamy, rich tropical elixir. However, there is no reason to panic. Your personal wine consultants here at Beltramo’s have you covered with a vast knowledge of full bodied California Chardonnays to help you survive the summer heat, and maybe even find a new favorite!

First we start off with a charming and affordable Chardonnay from Sonoma’s Russian River Valley, the 2010 L’Oliveto (available in-store only). This lightly rich Chardonnay yields great complexity, with zangy aromas of lemon grass and tropical fruits, followed by a round and slightly buttery mouth feel. For Rombauer enthusiasts planning for a large event that would like to supply guests with multiple bottles at an affordable cost, L’Oliveto most certainly fits the bill.

Now let’s say that the weekend hasn’t come yet, or you don’t have any big dinner dates planned for the evening. Rombauer can get a little pricey for every day drinking. From the esteemed Sleepy Hollow Vineyard, 2010 Talbott Logan Chardonnay is convenient and frugal at $17.99, but by no means should it be looked at as inferior to the premier Talbott Chardonnay ($29.99). Both are from the same lauded Sleepy Hollow Vineyard; however, Logan is grown on younger vines, thus lending itself to a modest price. The nose is a bouquet of creamy apricots and honey suckle leading up to a rich, full bodied palate with a long smooth and refreshing finish, perfect for the middle of the week.

With the weekdays taken care of, we now tackle the main cause for arms of this article: what do you do when there is no Rombauer? First, don’t panic. Second, grab yourself a bottle of 2009 Solitude. Like Rombauer, this Chardonnay is sourced from the Carneros, but that is not the end of the two chardonnay’s similarities. The wine maker for Solitude, Richard Litsch, is also an old Rombauer alumnus, having worked for Rombauer producing their award-winning Chardonnay. Featuring that same smooth, full bodied richness that Rombauer fans know and love, Solitude is layered with complex notes of cream coconut, passion fruit, and lemon zest, truly a triumphant homage to its foundation! Oh, did we also mention that it is a few dollars cheaper at $26.99?

Our last scenarios for this article are for that significant other, that best friend, or maybe even that boss or colleague at work. You are looking for a special bottle of wine for that special occasion, and perhaps you know that they are fond of full bodied California Chardonnays. At Beltramo’s you have many options of eclectic and rare Chardonnays to choose from, but we will stick to a California staple; Kistler. The most affordable of Kistler’s Chardonnays, the Sonoma Mountain 2010, is elegant and Burgundian in style. A symphony of stone and tropical fruits intertwine with subtle minerality and toasty richness, the Kistler Sonoma Mountain can be enjoyed immediately, but shines it’s best after a couple short years of age. At $59.99, it is luxurious without breaking the bank, and would compliment anyone’s cellar, or accompanied by a hearty steamed lobster with a light butter sauce and a spring salad.

As demand increases and yields remain relatively the same, not every fan will always be able to have their favorite Chardonnay. However, as this list will show you, there are always new hidden gems and award-winning Chardonnays around every corner, and your personal wine consultants here at Beltramo’s have done all the research for you to match you with the wine that is right for you. There are many delicious Chardonnays from a variety of styles and prices to choose from, so get out there and start trying them! There might not always be a Rombauer for all occasions, but there is always a right Chardonnay.

James LaMar, Beltramo’s Wine Consultant

What makes a wine kosher for Passover? Kosher wine must be made by a Shabbat observing male under a Rabbi’s supervision. All wines require yeast to start the fermentation process and turn grape juice into wine, but kosher for Passover wines must use yeast that is not started on bread. To be certain the wine is kosher for Passover; look for the “P” next to the kosher symbol.

Passover is a holiday that obligates one to drink four full glasses of wine throughout the Seder. Luckily for us, Beltramo’s has some fabulous kosher for Passover wines to keep those glasses full. This year I’m looking forward to enjoying a bottle of Blanc du Castel Chardonnay ($44.99), paired with a roasted chicken at our Seder meal.  Blanc du Castel is 100% Chardonnay from a hilltop vineyard outside Jerusalem It was barrel fermented and aged sur lie with  notes of  peaches, citrus, vanilla, minerals, and honey. This wine is reminiscent of a white burgundy.

Other kosher for Passover Chardonnays that we are offering are Hagafen Napa Valley Chardonnay 2009 ($19.99). With  its light sunflower hue and Honey Crisp apple, baking spice, and caramel bouquet, Bartlett pear and kiwi season and flow across the palate into a finish of crème brûlée and creamy smooth acid.

And Baron Herzog California Chardonnay 2008 ($12.99). This Chardonnay was barrel and stainless steel fermented and then aged in French and American Oak for 15 months. This cool, terroir-oriented wine shows elegant notes of lime, chamomile and tropical fruit overlaid with a bouquet of toasty oak.

Hagafen Napa Valley Merlot 2007 ($23.99) has a nose of ripe plum, bright white cherry, Lincoln rose, sweet cardamom and vanilla.

Yarden Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 ($29.99). A rich and complex Cabernet from Israel has notes of ripe dark red and black fruits, spice, and chocolate.

Galil Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon Yiron Galilee 2006 ($24.99). A blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, and 5% Syrah with abundant aromas of wild berry, cherry and plum jam on a background of seasoned characters of vanilla, clove and toasted oak; full bodied and well balanced; long, classic finish.

Hagafen White Riesling 2010 ($18.99) A delicious off dry Riesling with notes of apples, peach cobbler, meyer lemon, and honey.

Golan Moscato Galilee 2011 ($13.99). This low alcohol lightly sparkling dessert wine is a perfect selection to end your Seder meal with its refreshing notes of citrus blossoms, grapefruit, guavas, and melons.

If you had enough wine to drink during your Passover Seder and want to enjoy a cocktail, Beltramo’s also carries Distillery 209 Gin ($34.99) that is kosher for Passover. Five times distilled, this kosher, sugar cane gin, was created with exceptional attention to detail in handcrafted small batches. This local gin is probably the only gin made over the water at Pier 50 in San Francisco, and it is well worth trying.

With so many fantastic kosher for Passover wines available, my Seder table might have more than the required four glasses on it this year, but as the comedian Jackie Mason said, “A Seder without sweet Manischewitz, would be like horseradish without tears, like a cantor without a voice, like a shul without a complaint, like a yenta without a big mouth, like Passover without Jews.”

Beki Miller, Beltramo’s Wine Consultant

In many ways, Chardonnay is a victim of its own success.  It is by far the most widely planted wine grape in California (and Washington, for that matter) because it can be grown just about anywhere a vine will grow and still produce a marketable product.  It is also a grape that is acquiescent to a wide range of wine-making styles.   It can be refreshingly clean and light when done in stainless steel and kept from malolactic fermentation.   While at the other end of the spectrum you can find opulently textured examples aged in toasty oak and dripping with buttery richness.  And let’s not forget Chardonnay’s prowess in the arena of sparkling wine.  The grape’s versatility has allowed it to satisfy a wide range of consumers, but it has also led many producers to make wines that fall flat while attempting to be everything to everyone. 

Thankfully for Chardonnay lovers, there are more top quality options on the market these days than I have seen in many years.  The folks who really want to excel with this grape are making every effort to exalt terrior, pursue balance and  preserve subtleties that are often masked by too much intervention in the cellar.  At Beltramo’s we currently have close to 200 Domestic Chardonnay selections.  The following are a few of the growing group that adeptly embrace the fine qualities this grape has to offer.

2009 Shafer ‘Red Shoulder Ranch’ Carneros ($42.99) – Shafer’s single-vineyard Carneros-grown Chardonnay is produced from small-clustered clones of grapes selected for their low yields and distinctive flavors. Fermentation takes place within individual oak and stainless steel barrels using native yeasts. The wine matures on the lees for 14 months and since it undergoes no malolactic fermentation this Chardonnay retains a lively natural acidity.  “The 2009 offers lush, luxurious aromas and flavors of melon, honeysuckle, apricot, pineapple and flint all held together with bright acidity, good structure and elegant balance.”  Winemaker Elias Fernandez

2009 Peay ‘Estate’ Sonoma Coast ($54.99) – “In most vintages, the Estate Chardonnay has a   mineral and citrus character that makes this Chardonnay unique among the vast sea of Chardonnays available. The 2009 Estate Chardonnay combines that character with the intensity we seek. The nose shows youthful pear and lemon/vanilla custard notes. With time the robustness of flavors will become part of the vibrant and powerful wet slate, citrus and lead pencil flavored mid-palate. The finish is brisk and persistent with superb acidity and cut.” Peay winery

2009 Walter Hansel ‘Cahill Lane’ Russian River Valley ($38.99) – “The 2009 Chardonnay Cahill Lane (from the old Wente clone off a vineyard in front of Hansel’s house) is a deeper wine offering notes of white peaches, pears, white currants, unbuttered popcorn, hazelnuts and subtle smoke. It is a perfumed, medium to full-bodied white that admirably showcases the purity and elegance of this vintage for Burgundian varietals.”  Robert Parker

2009 Paul Hobbs ‘Richard Dinner Vineyard’ Sonoma Mountain ($69.99) -  “The Richard Dinner Vineyard is our source for the exquisite chardonnay upon which we founded our portfolio in 1991. With a lustrous golden hue it displays lively aromas of tropical fruits, lemon custard and fresh figs. Richly textured and fully elegant, the structured palate comes alive with succulent flavors of orange blossom, citrus oil, fresh pear and dulce de leche. A creamy, seemingly unstoppable finish is enhanced by the wine’s hallmark crushed mineral characteristics.” Paul Hobbs Winery

 Mike Janeway, Domestic Wine Buyer

Located roughly 90 miles north of San Francisco cutting through the coastal range, the western tip of the Anderson Valley is only a few miles from the Pacific Ocean while the tiny town of Boonville lies 20 miles to the east inland. The Anderson Valley name is credited to the Walter Anderson Family who in 1845 left Missouri and headed out west seeking gold, new land, and new opportunity. By chance they landed in this irrefutable Eden surrounded by dense redwoods on the southwest side and grassy hills to the northeast.

It wasn’t until 1964 that the modern era of wine-growing and wine-making in Anderson Valley came into play. Leading the charge was Dr. Donald Edmeades who planted 24 acres of premium wine grapes: Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Following Dr. Edmeades lead was Tony and Gretchen Husch who crushed their first grapes in 1971 and founded Husch Vineyards, Anderson Valley’s first commercial winery since prohibition. Many have pursued the success of Husch and Edmeades, notably Ted Benett of Navarro Vineyards who refers to the Anderson Valley’s emphasis “on content, not appearance” as well as the world class French Champagne House Louis Roederer which built a California sparkling wine facility in the Anderson Valley in the early 1980’s.

The Anderson Valley AVA, one of ten AVA’s in the Mendocino County, is a 15 mile stretch that has become well known for its cool climate grape varietals like Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and the aromatic whites such as Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer and Riesling. And with 28% of vineyard acreage certified organic or bio-dynamic, Mendocino wine country is considered the “greenest” wine region in the U.S… I highly recommend making a trip through Mendocino and visiting all the down to earth and friendly wineries but if time doesn’t permit you, please come on into Beltramo’s and try some of my favorite Mendocino wines:

Husch Anderson Valley Gewurztraminer 2009 ($11.99): Producer’s notes: “aromas of pineapple, honeysuckle…flavors of ripe melon, lychees and an inviting spice character.” An excellent value wine!

Terra Savia Mendocino Chardonnay 2009 ($11.99): Made with estate grown organic grapes, this is one of my favorite un-oaked Chardonnays. An excellent food wine, with a very refreshing style with plenty of citrus fruit flavors.

Drew Gatekeepers Blend Mendocino Ridge Pinot Noir 2009 ($27.99): A blend of two ridge top vineyards 2000+ ft. in elevation and less than 10 miles from the ocean: Manchester Ridge Vineyard and Perli Vineyard. Heavy aromas of rose, violets, tea leaf; hint of spearmint; light mineral notes.  Full of lively flavors of dark cherry, spices. A bit Burgundian in style.

Goldeneye Anderson Valley Pinot Noir 2009 ($49.99): A blend of four different estate vineyards: Confluence, Gowan Creek, Narrows, and Abel Vineyards. Excellent tannic structure, supported by ripe cherry and blueberry flavors, balanced use of oak and refreshing acidity.

Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Brut ($17.99): A multi-vintage cuvee made in the traditional Roederer style, known for its body, finesse and depth of flavor. 60% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir. Notes of crisp apple, lemon tart, and touch of yeast. Flavors are creamy with pear and baked apple characteristics.

Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Brut Rose ($24.99): 60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay. Slight Salmon tinge, wonderful crisp acidity and full round flavors of bright cherry, strawberry, red apples and touch of minerality.

Will Sundquist- Beltramo’s Wine Consultant and Assistant Manager

I was also able to get a sneak peak at some of the wines that won’t hit the marketplace until next spring as well as grill numerous winemakers on the state of this year’s harvest.  On that last note, the synopsis is that yields will be way down while quality will be dependent on the ability of vineyard managers to mitigate rain induced mold issues and foster the grapes to ripeness in a growing season that has been quite cool.

Here are a few highlights from the tasting that can currently be found on our shelves or purchased though our website:

2008 Kazmer & Blaise “Boon Fly’s Hill” Carneros Chardonnay – $44.99

Sourced from a small knoll within the Poseidon’s Vineyard in Carneros, this wine is age entirely in tight grained Hungarian oak barrels for 21 months.  It is a beautifully detailed Chardonnay with aromas of white flowers, blanched almond, apple tart and spice.  The mouth feel is structured and precise with vivid green apple flavors, a splash of minerality, great acidity and a subtle toasty nuance that lingers through the finish.  Only 197 cases were produced.

2010 Luli “Santa Lucia Highlands” Chardonnay – $17.99

My favorite thing about this wine lies in the wine making.    Here we have a wine that is vinified in 50% stainless steel, 50% neutral oak and untouched by malolactic fermentation.  This allows the essence of the grape to shine without the accoutrements of the winemaker’s hand.  The aromatics reveal a lovely tropical fruit note along with flavors of white peach and caramelized apple.  There is plenty of textural concentration as well as a vibrant acidity which helps to make this wine an agile food paring candidate.

2009 Freeman “Sonoma Coast” Pinot Noir – $39.99

With winemaker (and Beltramo’s alum) Ed Kurtzman in the cellar, this winery has been quietly turning out delicious wines for almost a decade.  Their most recent release of Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir showcases all the character of the 2009 vintage for this area.  It is a wine with bright acidity, tightly wound structure and beautiful depth of fruit.  The aromatics are a lively mix of pomegranate, sweet spices and rosewood.  The expression on the palate is a bit more reticent but the long finish reveals layers of subtlety indicative of future gratification.

2009 Roar “Rosella’s Vineyard” Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir – $49.99

Roar winery owner Gary Francioni is also the owner of the fabulous Rosella’s vineyard located in central portion of the Sana Lucia Highlands.  Coincidentally, this is another wine showcasing Ed Kurtzman’s deft hand with Pinot Noir, although in a very different style.  Effusive aromas of dark cherry, spice and savory herbs are backed up by a lush and seamless mouth feel.  It is certainly a more robust style of Pinot, but solid acidity means the wine never falls out of balance or becomes cumbersome on the palate.

Mike Janeway – Domestic Wine Buyer