The White Wines of California and New York

It was a snow day for much of New York, but not at wine school on Monday. The pour must go on! Here are some notes:

1. A blind tasting: A pale yellow wine, with aromas of pear and straw. Minerally. Low zing at the beginning, high fruit/no acidity, no "hang time" and very juicy. It turned out to be Gallo Chablis Blanc, the No. 1 selling jug wine in the United States.
2. Riesling, Dr. Konstantin Frank 2006 (Finger Lakes, N.Y.): Yellow-gold, a tart/rubbery scent, sourish tasting to start, but zippy, with tart apple flavor and a long finish. Would pair well with Asian-fusion food. $18-20/bottle.
3. Fume Blanc, Dry Creek Vineyards 2006 (Sonoma County): Ivory cast, fresh fruit aroma, lots of zing to start, tart/green apple with a neutral ending. A great appetizer wine for clams, oysters or food with a creamy sauce. $14 (a "great value" in sauvignon blanc).
4. Sauvignon Blanc, Mason 2006 (Napa Valley): Straw yellow, strong scent of cat pee, also pineapple, very tangy, slightly bitter, then grapefruity with a balanced ending. Heavier food with this one. $18.
5. Chardonnay, Hawk Crest 2007 (Montery): Goldish, a twiggy/melon/vanilla smell, tart beginning, toasty, then low-key and mellow. Low oak, "Macon-style" wine, a crowd-pleaser. $12.
6. Blind: Definitely a young yellow, powdery, slightly oaky, low acid, grassy with a faint citrus finish. It was Sonoma Cutrer Chardonnay 2006 (Sonoma Coast), the No. 1 selling wine in tablecloth restaurants in the United States. $25.
7. Blind: Young gold, buttery and strongly oaky smell, alcohol fumes at the start, very grape-y, low tannin, good balance. It was Lenz Chardonnay 2005 Gold Label (North Fork, Long Island). Our class seemed to favor this over Wine No. 6. $20.
8. Chateau St. Jean Chardonnay 2007 (Sonoma County): Fresh fruit aroma, lemony, soft edges and tannin toward the end. $14, a great value.
9. Au Bon Climat Chardonnay 2006 (Santa Barbara County: Buttery/tropical fruit smell, bracing acidity, almost "bakery" flavors, tingly, oaky end. Could age a bit. $25.
10. Talbott Chardonnay, Sleepy Hollow Vineyard 2005 (Montery): Metallic aroma, very fresh smelling, intense, sweet fruit. The class favorite (not mine). $40.
11. Chardonnay, Hudson Vineyard, Ramey 2005 (Napa Valley/Carneros): Honey/oaky aroma, obvious tannin, zingy, very puckery/overpowering dryness. Eat steak with this. $55.
12. Chateau Montelena Chardonnay 2003 (Napa Valley): Soft, figgy scent, great balance, low oak. My favorite. This winery won at the Judgment of Paris in 1976. $90, and rare.