Apex Cellars was launched in 1988 with the joining of wine retailer and distributor Harry Alhadeff and winemaker Brian Carter.  The blending of Harry’s knowledge and experience in the wine business and Brian’s ability to combine the science and art of winemaking has allowed Apex Cellars to consistently produce  high quality wines.  Apex Cellars produces three brands of wines, Apex, Apex II and Bridgman.  The Apex brand represents their reserve-caliber wines.

Quality

Using our 20-point quality scale this 2007 Chardonnay scored quite well.

Sourced from Columbia Valley, this Chardonnay represents the hard work and excellent winemaking skills from Apex Cellars.  The 100% barrel fermentation, “sur-lie” aging in those same barrels, and 100% malolactic fermentation comes through when you taste this Chardonnay.  After popping the cork and pouring myself a glass I was met with a nice floral aroma and a bright yellow color.  The first sip revealed flavors of apple, pear and vanilla.  The wine was well balanced and had a nice long smooth finish that I enjoy very much.

This Chardonnay was an excellent complement to a meal of Shrimp Limone with pasta.  The fruit and vanilla flavors worked well with the shrimp’s sweetness and the subtle acidity helped cut the richness of the cream-based sauce.

Value

The value score provides a basic indicator of how good a value the wine is based upon its suggested retail price. The average price for the 2007 Apex Cellars Chardonnay is approximately $18.00.  I find this wine to be appropriately priced for its quality, thus earning it a value score of 100.

Final Score – 16:100

The 2007 Apex Chardonnay is another high quality wine from the folks of Apex Cellars.  I recommend you find a bottle or two.  You won’t be disappointed. Cheers!

]]> http://thewinecenturyclub.com/2010/01/21/apex-cellars-2007-chardonnay/feed/ 0 http://thewinecenturyclub.com/2010/01/12/new-years-sparkling-tasting/ http://thewinecenturyclub.com/2010/01/12/new-years-sparkling-tasting/#comments Tue, 12 Jan 2010 18:15:30 +0000 admin http://thewinecenturyclub.com/?p=786 We were fortuante enough to sample ten, yes I said ten, bottles of Champagnes, Champagne style wines and desert sparkling wines to bring in 2010.  This is something I have been looking forward to for some time and I was not disappointed.

The tasting list consisted of three sparkling wines from the Champagne region of France, three domestic wines produced in the Champagne style, a pair of sparkling roses and if that weren’t enough, we concluded with two sparkling desert wines.  Holy crap that was a lot of bubbles!  Boy was it fun though.

Champagnes
Egly-Ouriet NV Brut, Grand Cru 
Bollinger’s NV Brut Special Cuvee
Pierre Peters 2002 Brut Millesime

Champagne Style Wines
Domaine Meriwether Wines 1999 Captain Clark Vintage Cuvee’
Domaine Meriwether Wines 1998 Thomas Jefferson Prestige Cuvee
Tru Cellars 2007 Blanc de Blanc

Sparkling Rose´s
Argyle 2007 Brut Rose
Domain de Nizas Rose 2008

Sparkling Desert Wines
Cascina Castlet 2008 Moscato d’Asti
Tualatin Estate 2008 Semi-Sparkling Muscat Frizzante´

SCORE 14.75:94

Value  94 Based upon an average purchase price of $69/bottle.

Tasting Notes: Golden hues.  Plenty of lemon on the nose and palate, with hints of toasted nuts and butter.  Fresh and lively tasting.

SCORE 14:90

Value  90 Based upon an average purchase price of $69/bottle.

Tasting Notes: Light yellow. Apple and honey flavors with plenty of vanilla and toffee flavors on the finish.  Well balanced.

SCORE 15.5:95

Value  95 Based upon an average purchase price of $45/bottle.

Tasting Notes: Nice, straw yellow color. Floral nose.  Full bodied sparkler with peach and citrus flavors.

SCORE 16.75:150

Value  150 Based upon an average purchase price of $25/bottle.

Tasting Notes: Light yellow color. Spicy nose.  Well balanced, with tropical fruit flavors.  Nice long, clean finish.

SCORE 17.25:127

Value  127 Based upon an average purchase price of $30/bottle.

Tasting Notes: Pinkish-yellow color. Abundant foam.  Toffee and vanilla aromas.  Very well balanced.  The Pinot Noir fruit comes through on this wine.  Elegant finish.

SCORE 15.25:90

Value  90 Based upon an average purchase price of $36/bottle.

Tasting Notes: Light yellow. Lots of apple on the nose and palate.  Medium body.  Acidic, clean finish.

SCORE 16:100

Value  100 Based upon an average purchase price of $45/bottle.

Tasting Notes: Pale pink. Mixed berry aromas.  Berry and tropical fruit flavors are well balanced with acidity and tannins.  Creamy, cherry finish.

SCORE 16.5:130

Value  130 Based upon an average purchase price of $15/bottle.

Tasting Notes: Soft rose color.  Floral aromas.  Berry, spice and cherry flavors.  Lush finish Well balanced.

SCORE 14.75:100

Value  100 Based upon an average purchase price of $15/bottle.

Tasting Notes: Light straw-yellow in color.  Floral aromas.  Floral and stone fruit flavors.  Slightly sweet, while still having a clean finish.

SCORE 16.5:120

Value  120 Based upon an average purchase price of $15/bottle.

Tasting Notes: Clone of an Italian Moscato d’Asti. Light yellow. Berry and citrus aromas, follow with more berry and floral flavors.  Medium body with a velvety, sweet finish.

]]> http://thewinecenturyclub.com/2010/01/12/new-years-sparkling-tasting/feed/ 3 http://thewinecenturyclub.com/2009/09/18/wine-news-september-18-2009/ http://thewinecenturyclub.com/2009/09/18/wine-news-september-18-2009/#comments Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:00:40 +0000 admin http://thewinecenturyclub.com/?p=620 Oregon Wineries Face Event Restrictions
Lane County requires permits; B.C. and Washington wineries enjoy greater freedom

The Economy Meets the Wine Economy
Experts at Wine Industry Financial Symposium debate when and if consumer wine spending will rebound

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Even in France, where wine tradition reigns, vineyards are changing. A new study by Franceagrimer, the national agriculture trade organization, has found notable changes in vineyard composition in the past 30 years.

WA: Port of Kalama wine bottle plant shutting down
A company that makes wine bottles has shut down its plant at the Port of Kalama. Port spokeswoman Mindi Lindquist says only a few of the 100 workers are staying on a few days following Sunday’s shutdown to help with the closure.

Departure of Newberg, Oregon winemaker prompts vindictive lawsuit
A winemaker’s decision to quit a local label has sparked a lawsuit, not to mention raised eyebrows in the wine community.

Online Wine Magazine Tests Waters
Palate Press is an experimental mix of blogging and traditional journalism, publishers say