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The Wine Rack

By Suzanne and Parks Hall

Drinking wine is fun. But many people make it too complicated. That’s why for more than 10 years, we’ve tried hundreds of wines and shared what we’ve discovered with newspaper, magazine and now Travellady.com readers. Our approach to wine tasting may not be scientific. But it is down-to-earth. Since we believe wine and food are a natural combination, we consider that when trying wines and make pairing suggestions for every wine we recommend. You may not agree with all our choices. But you can be assured that the wines we recommend, whether priced at $10 or $40, represent good value. And speaking of prices, please remember that they can vary from city to city and that some wines may not be available everywhere.

TOP PICK
2000
Liberty School
Central Coast
Chardonnay
$14 - $16

A wine merchant we trust recommended this Chardonnay. We were hesitant, since our experience with Liberty School wines in the past has not always been positive. But, she was right. This Chardonnay was a real surprise and a very good value. It starts out with an exceptionally fruity nose. It’s creamy and feels nice and thick on the tongue. And, it’s just bursting with ripe melon, grapefruit and apple flavors. You’ll also find some spice flavors, just the right touch of oak and a hint of cedar. Medium dry and well balanced, this is a very drinkable Chardonnay. It’s in limited supply and sought after. So a few bottles now before they’re gone. Then, serve them with traditional white wine foods, like creamy cheeses, chicken and seafood dishes, pastas in light cream sauces and most any egg dish. This also is a very good “sipping” wine.

OTHER GOOD BETS THIS MONTH
1996
Chateau LaRose-Trintaudon
Haut-Medoc
$16 - $18

If you’ve ever wondered what a Cabernet Sauvignon grape smells like, take a good whiff of this red. It’s a classic example. Quite dry, with pronounced tannins and oak, this is a good French wine at a very fair price. Pair it with a great steak, roast beef or a burger. If you want to feel really decadent, try it with a bowl of chili con carne.

2000
Lindemans
Bin 45
Cabernet Sauvignon

This wine smell likes chocolate-covered cherries. There’s no real chocolate in the taste, but there is plenty of cherry flavor in this moderately dry wine with medium tannins. Lindemans produces consistently good wines. This one is no exception. Serve it with simple foods like pot roast, burgers and pasta with tomato sauce.

Image by S. Parks Hall