Boxed Wine Rollercoaster

The up and down journey of boxed Chardonnay continues. Just when I thought things were heading up, up and away, they plummeted down into darkness. Third on the docket of Chard's was the 2006 Banrock Station South Eastern Australia Chardonnay. This wine was in a higher price class ($23.99) and had many positive reviews on Al Gore's Internet (what? You mean he didn't invent it?). What a let down. It was overly herbaceous with flavors of rotten apples and plastic. I am not fictionalizing this at all. Absolutely horrible. I feel like I just wasted 63 words of good writing, and that includes the Al Gore quip. Don't buy it.

The final Chard for this round of testing was the 2005 Black Box Napa Valley. This wine came in with high expectations. Why? An even higher price ($24.99) and even more optimistic online reviews. Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a winner! The Black Box is perfect in its role! At about 6 bucks and change a bottle, it is an extremely good value. The nose is simple and inviting fruit, but the palate, oh is it tasty. Loads of apple and a creaminess that I couldn't pin, but their website accurately describes as "toffee yeast." I would not be embarrassed to serve this wine to friends and family. After those long days at work, or just on a crisp fall autumn afternoon, this wine will do you right!

Look for a series on red wines in boxes sometime in the near future, as well as some notes on local dining. Till next time..."Wine gives great pleasure, and every pleasure is of itself a good."--Samuel Johnson