Herb's Top WHITE Wines

UNDER $15
2005 King Oregon Pinot Gris
King Estate is the "King" of Oregon Pinot Gris. This is exactly what you're looking for in a Gris--clean flavors, balanced acidity, crisp melon fruit with slight mineral notes, and a pleasantly dry finish. They produce a lot of this wine, but they've maintained quality which is difficult to accomplish.

2005 Kenwood Sonoma Sauvignon Blanc
I really like this vintage of Kenwood’s Sauvignon Blanc. They seem to have great balance this year. Crisp citrus aromas are present in the aroma. On the palate this wine has subdued citrus and grapefruit flavors. The mid-palate has a softer texture and lovely tropical fruit flavors. This is a great example of California Sauvignon Blanc and a nice alternative to New Zealand.

2005 Domaine des Cassagnoles Sauvignon
This is a great little white from the Gascony region of France. This wine has a citrus aroma that leads to citrus and melon flavors on the palate. It has a surprisingly soft mid-palate with good melon fruit. The finish is dry and slightly crisp and offers a nice balance to this lovely fruit. This is a lighter white with a great fruit to acid ratio.

2006 Kiss Chasey White
Soft easy drinking with an extra Zzziiiing of flavor. Once you taste the plump, rich fruit bowl of flavors, you'll know you're in the orchard. "Great value for the money" wine. It is perfect for just sipping in your own backyard.

2005 White Knight Viognier
From the Winemaker, "With scents of orange blossoms, jasmine, and sweet orchids, this Viognier is the embodiment of springtime. Apricot, white peaches, and Fuji apples fill the round mouth of this unctuous wine, finishing with a delicate kiss of caramel, vanilla, and lemon zest."

2005 Boniface Apremont
File this selection under the heading “I’ve never heard of that appellation or grape before?” The Savoie region is located due east of Beaujolais near Geneva, Switzerland and uses the white Jacquere grape. This ethereal white comes from the foothills of the Swiss Alps. It has a lovely floral aroma and is pleasant on the palate with lemon and mineral flavors. The mid-palate shows riper melon flavors with perfumed notes. This white has balanced acidity throughout and good weight.  The finish is riper with lengthy, melon fruit flavors. This wine is very intriguing because it has good body and a lot of different flavors and textures.

2006 Dancing Coyote Albariňo
Albariňo is one of the top growing varietals of Spain, but there are only a few acres grown of it in California, and the Clarksburg appellation is ideal for producing it. A clean, crisp dry wine often referred to as the Riesling of Spain. On the nose, intense aromas of passion fruit, ripe citrus, honey and peaches. In the mouth it is well balanced with a fresh acidity that makes Albariňo such a versatile food wine.

2005 Cuevas de Castilla Con Class Rueda
This blend of 80% verdejo, 10% viura and 10% sauvignon has a bright,  light gold color with green tints. It has a complex nose of gooseberry, kiwi and white fruit aromas with a slightly smoky edge. It is rich, crisp well-balanced wine with clean Sauvignon Blanc varietal character. This wine has a rich and long finish.

NV Segura Viudas Aria Cava
This is a very good Spanish Cava. It’s the mid-tier offering from Segura Viudas. It has aromas of yeast and dough that are followed by lemon curd flavors on the palate which evolve into crisp apple flavors on the mid-palate. This Cava is not bone dry, which is good because you will be able to taste more of the fruit. It has good bubbles and is clean and fresh. The finish is bright with notes of truffles and more crisp apple. Overall, a great sparkler.

2003 Foris Rogue Valley Chardonnay
This Oregon Chardonnay is a tremendous value. I really like the balance in this Oregon Chardonnay. It's a riper style, yet maintains excellent acidity. It is fresh and clean with lighter tropical fruit flavors and a pleasant roundness on the mid-palate. It's not a one dimensional fruit bomb because it has underlying structure. This is a very easy-to-drink, and like, Chardonnay.

2004 Ranier Ridge Washington State Chardonnay
I love a wine where everything just falls into place. I tasted this wine and found a Chard that is immensely enjoyable with fresh and juicy tropical fruit flavors, good acidity, and no oak. I asked the price, heard under $15, and it all fell together - price, flavor, and “enjoyability” were all aligned. I couldn’t ask for anything more, so I immediately ordered a case.  Enjoy!

Herb's Top White Wines OVER $15