Varner Santa Cruz Mountains Spring Ridge Vineyard Ampitheatre Block Chardonnay 2009
Liat, our friend from Northern California visited and L prepared a Salmon with a tangy Mango and Cilantro sauce and we served this Chardonnay which was a perfect accompaniment to the entree. It also was a toast to Liat's Northern California Santa Cruz Mountain roots in Los Gatos and long time homestead in the area high above Scott's Valley on Vinehill Road on the site of the old Smothers' Brothers vineyard estate.
Located in the Santa Cruz Mountains south and west of the San Francisco Bay tucked back in the Portola Valley west of Stanford University in the Santa Cruz Appellation, Varner Wines are the product of twin brothers Bob and Jim Varner. This area is not well known for Chardonnay but this 'Amphitheatre Vineyard' Chardonnay is highly regarded and much
sought after. The Varner 'Amphitheatre Vineyard' Chardonnay represents a sense of place or "terroir".
Winemaker Bob
Varner selects fruit from the "Amphitheater Block" of their Spring Ridge
Vineyard, which was first planted in 1980. This area has never been afflicted with Phyloxera so the vines are from the original root stock and plantings. Varner uses non-interventionist
farming practices and native yeast fermentation, yielding a pleasant and impressive wine with character that is crisp and citrusy, with plenty of acidity
and minerality. This wine is also a considerable value for the money.
This label is less well known perhaps than their Foxglove label, a line of affordable wines, which offer a high QPR - quality to price ratio; this is from their higher end offerings which are single vineyard and in this case single block designated bottlings. The
Varner Spring Ridge Vineyard Amphitheater Block Chardonnay comes from a two-acre block of own-rooted, 28-year-old vines and is
aged in 30% new French oak on its lees until bottling.
The
Varner Santa Cruz Mountains Spring Ridge Vineyard Ampitheatre Block Chardonnay 2009 was subdued and not over the top like so many Cal chardonnays
- medium to full body, excellent texture with aromatic
notes of honeysuckle, subtle oak, spice and lemon oil, it features flavors of baked apple, lemon and
pear with moderate minerality and a crisp, steely component, with balanced acidity.
RM 89 points.
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1137045
http://www.varnerwine.com/
Beringer Vineyards Nightingale Napa Valley Botytised Semillion Sauvignon Blanc 2004
For dessert, Linda prepared warm individual chocolate cakes served with ice cream and fresh red raspberries. We served this with
Beringer Vineyards Nightingale Napa Valley Botytised Semillion Sauvignon Blanc 2004 which accented the red berry fruits and chocolate perfectly.
Golden yellow on release, this eight year old is taking on a weak tea honey colored hue that will continue to darken with age. Medium to full bodied, scents and flavors of honey, apricot and melon finish with a subtle layer of smoke that moderates the fruit and sweetness.
RM 89 points.
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=441964
Medium bodied, black cherry fruit with hint of earth, cola, red berry and spice. Tasted from 375 bottle at home with grilled steak and roasted potato dinner. Better than earlier review, lost the awkwardness, more polished, balanced and approachable than as reviewed last year. 
