Get Zorked with Moobuzz Chardonnay!!

Today's review is focused on the value end of the Chardonnay spectrum and what I found out there’s a lot to like, which is why I chose this wine to bring to your attention today, aside from the very unusual closure and the great name. 

Do you get the name? Moo equals cows and buzz equals honey, thus you have a wine from the land of milk and honey or as some call it Sonoma County. 

For all the "value" oriented white wine drinkers the CCWB has another wonderful Chardonnay for today's review, brought to you by the folks at the "Other Guys" whose edgy [love this word] wine portfolio [like, Plunger Head] has separated itself from its former association with Don Sebastiani & Sons [a whole story by itself, which I will not be delving into here]. But if you really are interested here's the link:
Don Sebastiani & Sons restructures, to spin off key wine units ...

Big Wine on Campus: This will come to many as a huge shock, especially red wine drinkers Chardonnay is America's most popular grape, despite the efforts of those in the ABC movement. I say this [pondering] and look at my own wine cellar and for me nothing could be further from the truth. So how can I say here what is contradictory for me, well it appears wine drinkers like myself are the exception [gulp].

So why is Chardonnay so popular? The answer may lie in the fact that it's made in many styles which tend to range from steely [read that NO OAK], mineral laced wines with crisp green apple fruit to wines that are buttery, rich, and laden with tropical fruits. It would appear there's a Chardonnay which can appeal to most every palate. Most everyone knows Chardonnay is most closely associated with France's Burgundy region and now has proven itself successful around the globe, but the variations of flavors, styles and types of Chardonnay run the gamut as mentioned earlier. Another factor may be the fact that the Chardonnay grape is one of the worlds most planted vine and most readily adaptable to a large variety growing regions.

Closures: The Zork as it called, is a new entry wading into the "closure" debate, which has found no closure [pun intended] in the continuing debate to cork or not to cork. So Zork is trying to make an inroads into the industry, with its custom caps, or "closures" which according to Zork, "seals like a screw cap and pops like a cork" and promotes this closure by eluding to its ability to age wines by saying and I paraphrase "The Zork closure allows the wine to age, like a traditional cork" and can be found on other readily recognized brands such as McLauren Vale, Australia-based Red Knot, imported by Seattle-based Precept Wine Brands.

Wine Reviewed: Moobuzz Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2006

Full Disclosure: This wine was NOT a sample, it was purchased by the CCWB for my own personal enjoyment from the Wine Bank here in San Diego, which unfortunately is out of this wine.

First Swirl: After I opened the unique "zork" closure and poured a few ounces into my glass, tilted it toward the light pouring through my patio window, I found a medium straw colored core, fleeing to a pale straw rim.

First Sniff: After I've given this wine a couple good swirls I put my nose into the glass and what hit my god-given sensory apparatus is this; this wine has aromas of freshly toasted bread, crème brulée, and tropical fruits like bananas and papayas.

First Sip: Okay now it's time to see if everything going on with the first sniff will translate in the mouth, what I find is that this wine exudes flavors of rich vanilla custard, lemon shavings, breadfruit, wild flower honey, and fresh oven-baked pears.

Treatment: This 2006 Chardonnay benefited from six-month sur lees aging in the barrel for 30% of the blend. In this statement about how this wine is treated or made prior to being bottled is where the secret lies. What secret you may ask? The secret of finding balance; between the big over-oaked [read that chateau two-by-four] buttery chards and those wines which follow the NO-OAK mantra.

Where to purchase: This wine can be purchased at the Holiday Wine Cellar which is located at 302 West Mission AvenueEscondido, CA 92025-1712(760) 745-1200 or give them a call and if they don't have it they would be glad to order it for you. I spoke with Kathleen from HWC and they are selling it for $14.99.

Price and ABV: This wine represents a real crowd pleaser by weighing in at a mere 13.5% alcohol and the price is equally enticing at the $12 - $16 price range.

What's the Score: Hey point seekers here's my score if your interested: I scored this wine 92 on Cuvee Corner 100 point tasting scale. This score is higher than the WE score of 90 for one reason, PRICE. This wine represents tremendous value and is a QPR winner in all respects.

Pairing Suggestions: Do you ever run into this quandary? Oh what to pair, what to pair? I have and what I found is that this wine pairs well with oven broiled rack of pork [seasoned with a bevy of Italian spices and EVOO] and a creamy polenta along side or tuna [ahi] tartare with fresh California avocados or even a BBQ Rotisserie Free-Range Chicken, hungry yet?

My Recommendation: This is a great wine to purchase by the case. It's easy on the wallet and lush on the palate what else could you ask for in a wine? So scour your local wine shops or hop online and get yourself some of this wine today. The word on the street is that the 2007 is just as good as the 2006 so you won't be disappointed either way, but don't wait it will sell quickly at this price.

Other Voices: Okay if everything I said did not sway your opinion about getting some of this great value wine, then here's one from the folks at WE who had this to say about this very good Chardonnay, "Delivers lots of bang for the buck, shows real Chardonnay character, with rich vanilla cream-infused flavors of ripe pineapples, pears, and sautéed banana, buttered toast and honey and at this price, it's fantastic buy that can stand next to Chards costing far more." Best Buy 90 Points Wine Enthusiast

Until next time cheers everyone!