Now here’s a red wine you can sink your teeth into—without staining them red or purple. If in the mood for something with some grit and texture, something with an “I don’t give and eff” attitude, then this is the wine for you. It’s bold, bodacious, with serious backbone, yet absolutely 100% casual. Call the blend a “kitchen sink” blend if you will, but know that it’s crafted with finesse and not a drop of it will go down the gutter. Bonus points for the low price point and the fact that you can pair it with your finest steak just as well as you could a sandwich. 
Ranch 32 2016 Chardonnay
I’m loving the cool climate wines from Ranch 32. From their Cabernet Sauvignon to their Pinot Noir, they truly keep the essence of the fruit in the bottle. And this Chardonnay is no exception. Aged completely in stainless steel, just a kiss of ML in the blend, Ranch 32 truly knows what “minimalistic winemaking” means. Bonus point: this restrained Chardonnay comes at an affordable price, which means you can enjoy this wine just as easily with a mid-week meal as you could on date night.
Flora Springs 2017 Family Select Chardonnay
I love pretty much everything from Flora Springs. You can click on that link and see all the rave reviews I’ve done on their wines — from hearty red blends indicative to Napa Valley to an enjoyably (and surprisingly) minimalistic Sauvignon Blanc. But, for me Chardonnay from Napa is a hard sell — I find many winemakers in the area, for whatever reason, seem to overwork the grape with either too much new oak influence or too much ML, or in some cases both.
While I enjoyed this Flora Springs Chardonnay (especially with the appropriate cheese!) I do have somewhat of a mixed review…
Saved 2017 Magic Maker Rosé
Do you see this picture? It’s of an empty wine bottle. That’s because, despite the fact that I enjoyed this wine over the course of several days, I enjoyed it so much it just slipped my mind to take a picture. Pour, drink, enjoy. That’s my short story about how this rosé “saved” me, bringing a bit of joy to a rough week.
Savannah-Chanelle 2016 Tondre’s Grapefield Chardonnay
This is a wine that is quite special to me. I’m lucky enough to have winemakers send me their wines, invite me to visit, experience their vineyards. And I’ve discovered some beautiful — and very special — wines this way. But there is a special cubby hole in my heart and in my head I save for those wines I discover alongside my partner on a random excursion into wine country. Savannah-Chanelle had the added benefit of being close to our first home together, which was closer to San Francisco’s South Bay wine country — where the terroir and, thus, the varietal expressions are wholly different.
On Saturday nights we celebrate date night, when, if we have nothing else to toast, we toast each other. So cin-cin and cheers to us…