25 Wines For The Second Half Of Summer
We are more than halfway through the summer, and the flow of enjoyable white wines from around the world is at its peak. Here is a collection of mainly sauvignon blanc, pinot grigio, and chardonnay — including some good choices from Chablis — along with a nice rosé and a few recently released reds.
Brancott Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2016 ($10). Loads of lime with a touch of creaminess.
Denis Race Petit Chablis 2015 ($14). Crisp and tart with good minerality and notes of lime.
Brancott "Flight Song" Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2016 ($15). Only nine percent alcohol; tart, light flavors of lime and apples, and a little short on the finish.
Alois Lageder Porer Alto Adige Pinot Grigio 2015 ($20). A standout among pinot grigios, with full-flavored fruit, good balance, and pleasant orange notes.
Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Fumé Blanc 2015 ($20). Very nice, with tropical fruit notes to go along with the greener flavors.
Terlato Friuli Pinot Grigio 2016 ($23). A fair amount of juiciness, dropping off to a papery finish.
Cliff Lede Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2016 ($24). Delicious and creamy with good structure and a long finish.
Joseph Drouhin Vaudon Chablis 2015 ($24). A generous wine but not a big one, with flavors of apples and lemon and a touch of toast.
Rombauer Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2016 ($25). Fresh lime and grapefruit flavors, medium body, and a pleasing finish.
Groth Hillview Napa Valley Chardonnay 2015 ($30). Full-bodied, with a flavor of apples, well-integrated oak, and a little tanginess in the finish.
Dampt Frères Les Fourneaux Chablis 1er Cru 2014 ($31). A good food wine, with orange-peel minerality, light tannins, and good length on the palate.
Vocoret et Fils Les Forets Chablis 1er Cru 2015 ($31). A touch of tanginess, and good presence, with savory and mineral notes.
Brancott "B" Letter Series Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2016 ($34). Very spicy, with fruity red raspberry flavors, unusual but interesting in a white wine.
Pali Huber Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay 2013 ($38). Fresh and juicy with just-cut apple flavors and moderate oak.
Benovia Fort Ross-Seaview Chardonnay 2014 ($46). Full, juicy, spicy, piquant, and oaky!
Robert Mondavi Oakville Fumé Blanc 2014 ($40). A vivacious, rich intensity of fruit paired with considerable oak notes.
Robert Mondavi To Kalon Napa Valley Fumé Blanc Reserve 2014 ($52). Light and elegant, with old and new oak blended with fresh fruitiness.
Les Dauphins Côtes du Rhône Reserve Rosé 2016 ($9). Crisp and dry with light strawberry and melon flavors.
Penfolds "Max's" South Australia Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 ($20). Good red fruitiness and wood integration, with a sharp edge in the finish.
Penfolds "Max's" South Australia Shiraz Cabernet 2015 ($20). Fruity-sweet (this is one for lovers of sweeter wines), with some sharp savory notes.
Joseph Drouhin Hospices de Belleville Fleurie 2014 ($22). Refreshing, spicy, pinot noir-like fruit with well-done acidity and structure.
Tower 15 "The Swell" Paso Robles Red Blend 2013 ($22). Lean and tight with bright berry flavors and a pronounced cabernet slant.
Cooper & Thief California Red Wine Blend 2014 ($28). An interesting wine, but not one for the table, with its 17 percent alcohol and strong vanilla flavors (from aging in used bourbon barrels) complementing its blackberry notes; a wine for sipping only.
Robert Mondavi "Maestro" Napa Valley Red Wine 2014 ($50). Very well made with mature blackberry flavors, savory notes, a dollop of cream, and smooth tannins.
Joseph Drouhin Gevrey-Chambertin 2014 ($58). Full-bodied, but with a tart fruitiness and excellent structure.