A poor man's Rombauer

A poor man's Rombauer, hey what do you mean by that? Well if you are Wente Vineyards this what you would call a "back-handed" compliment. If you are Rombauer Vineyards you are probably not too comfortable with another wine being tagged with that moniker. But Wente Vineyards Riva Ranch Reserve Chardonnay, Monterey Arroyo Seco is exactly that, the poor mans Rombauer and is bandied about as such in wine stores all over California and else where (like from the lips of wine rep's everywhere).

Let's be honest here Rombauer makes a great Chardonnay, to which almost everyone agrees. But with a price point starting somewhere around $29.99 each, well it's not going to be the QPR champ or even a competitor. With the economy the way it is now, folks who love to drink wine on a regular basis are looking to cut corners. Well here is your answer! I have been drinking vintages of Wente Vineyards Riva Ranch Chard since 2004 and while each one differs a little, one thing which is not different is the overall consistent quality. Price ranges from 10.95 -11.99 a bottle and in the word's of Jennifer's Review that is "uber-fabulous!"

With that said, now it's time for the review! There is one word in the tasting notes which describes this wine very well, that is balance! With the ABC, movement afoot this is a lofty goal for today's Chardonnay producers and it is achieved with this wine. The wine has the a creaminess associated with having an oak influence and tropical notes associated with Monterey fruit. This is an excellent wine to pair with food or as stand alone sipper. Weighing in at 13.5% alc. which is hardly noticed as this wine coats your palate with a suppleness normally associated with wines of a higher caliber and price point. But hey don't take my word for it, try it for yourself and see. You won't be disappointed. Until next time Cheers!