Cheap Good White Wine

A fantastic effort, the ’05 Kenwood Sauvignon Blanc offers fresh citrus flavors with a hint of melon; a lively body and lingering finish. This is the perfect wine to accompany spicy Asian cuisine.

Winery: Kenwood Vineyards
Vintage: 2005
Type: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Sonoma County, California
Ratings: CLUB BEV: 94 points, Gold Winner 2006 Orange County Fair Wine Competition
Price: $13.79

Classic Sauvignon characters, with tropical passion fruit, gooseberry and grapefruit flavors. A wine to drink now, or to keep up to five years with proper cellaring. This wine was ranked #40 on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of 2006. At this price, it’s a no-brainer!

Winery: Kim Crawford Wines, Ltd.
Vintage: 2006
Type: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Marlborough, New Zealand
Ratings: WINE SPECTATOR: 92 PTS
Price: $16.99

The ’04 Cambria Katherine’s Chardonnay reveals a flamboyant nose of orange blossoms, lemon honey, and wet stones; tropical fruit characteristics also emerge on the palate. And despite not being a fan of eating wet stones, I gave this Chardonnay a try and really enjoyed it.

Winery: Cambria
Vintage: 2004
Type: Chardonnay
Region: Santa Maria Valley, CA, USA
Ratings: ROBERT PARKER, JR: 90 points
Price: $16.79

Racy and fine, the scintillating ’05 Geyser Peak Sauvignon Blanc zings with excellent ripe citrus flavors; great with steamed mussels. Do you like mussels? Me neither, but the wine is seriously good.

Winery: Geyser Peak Winery
Vintage: 2005
Type: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: California, USA
Ratings: GOLD, BEST OF CLASS, 2006 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
Price: $10.29

Brisk and lively, the ’05 Bogle Sauvignon Blanc is a pure example of the varietal; drinks well with mildly seasoned oven baked pork chops. Mmmmmm… pork chops. Maybe I should make a website about pork chops.

Winery: Bogle Vineyards
Vintage: 2005
Type: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: California, USA
Ratings: WILFRED WONG: 90 points
Price: $8.99

Full of fine core fruit flavors, the stand-up ’04 Beringer Napa Valley Chardonnay is a well-focused wine; nice weight on the palate makes it excellent with grilled chicken.

Winery: Beringer Vineyards
Vintage: 2004
Type: Chardonnay
Region: Napa Valley, CA, USA
Ratings: Wilfred Wong: 90 points
Price: $13.99

A steady performer, the ’05 Dry Creek Vyd Fume Blanc exhibits subtle flavors of tropical fruits and dried leaves; excellent balance on the palate; delivers nicely in the finish.

Winery: Dry Creek Vineyard
Vintage: 2005
Type: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Sonoma County, CA, USA
Ratings: Wilfred Wong: 91 points
Price: $9.99