Guest Author - Jim Fortune

Year: 2006
Winery: Bonterra
Region/Country: Mendocino County, California
Varietal: Chardonnay

Last summer I had the chance to try a 2005 Sauvignon Blanc from Redwood Valley. I tried in vain to get my wine store to get me a case. It was really a great wine from a winery called Chance Creek. I mention it because the grapes were grown organically. Lewis Bock, if you are reading this, I am interested in getting a case; maybe two.

I can honestly say that there are some fruits and vegetables I taste where I can tell the difference between organic and the commercially produced food in the grocery store. One is more vibrant, more alive, tastes better and smells better. When I say this fruit one tastes that way, and then I find out that I have chosen the organic fruit, I say to myself, “Alright!” Do you know what I mean? And I can also say that there are other fruits and vegetables where I cannot tell the difference between the organic and the commercially produced food. So it is a tossup in my mind if it is worth paying the difference in price if I cannot tell the difference. I want to go green, but if I cannot tell the difference . . .

So Chance Creek Vineyards used organically grown grapes and it was Great! Really, I do not know if the wine tasted so wonderful because the grapes were grown organically or not. However, I have just had the opportunity to taste another white from California, and the grapes are also organically grown and I am wondering if I am on to something. This wine is a 2006 Chardonnay from Bonterra Vineyards. Frankly, this is a vineyard I know nothing about. But I think I want to know more just based upon what I taste in this wine. Like the 2007 Fetzer from an earlier review, this wine comes from the Mendocino coast, north of San Francisco.

I love this area of California. Jenner, Sea Ranch, Gualala, Fort Bragg; these are all great places. And speaking of great, this Chardonnay from Bonterra, falls into that category. The color was a nice yellow straw color and the nose had a slight hint of oak. I thought I tasted vanilla, but now that I am reading this, it sounds kind of silly. But that is what I thought at the time when I was making my notes. It was definitely buttery. This wine retails for $12.99. I would buy a bottle if you can get it in your area of the country. You can check out the website at Bonterra Winery.

Until next time, let me know what is on your mind, and how you are doing, O.K.?

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Jim Fortune - Bella Online Wine Guy