I’m turning my attention back to some catch-up blog posts focused on the wines from my “50 Project.” As you’ll recall, these wines were gifts from dear friends for my 50th birthday. I’ll attempt to honor them by sharing my tasting notes so others can look for these labels in their local stores and give them a try.

Let’s focus this post on three outstanding whites.

First was a 2010 Ponzi Pinot Gris (a gift from my sweet BC-D). I love a dry Pinot Gris and this one was perfection in the glass. Ponzi is one of Oregon’s leading Pinot Gris producers and this wine features grapes from eight of its vineyards across Willamette Valley. I found this wine to be very fruit-forward without being at all sweet, with great aromas of tropical fruits. It was acidic and nicely lemony. Some words from Wine Enthusiast, which rated this wine 90 points: “Bright with scents and flavors of apples and pears, this fresh and spicy young wine is bone dry, moderately low in alcohol and utterly delicious. It couldn’t be more refreshing. Best Buy.” I’ll be on the lookout for more of this as a summer staple.

Next, let’s talk about two very different interpretations on Chardonnay. My little friend, JB, sent along a 2010 Domaine Cheveau Macon Solutre-Pouilly, hailing from France’s Burgundy region. Banish any idea of the buttery, oaky California Chardonnays most of us know: this wine was produced all in stainless steel, with a hint of creamy sweetness to it. It was also a paler yellow than most US Chardonnays. All in all, very lovely.

Last but not least was a 2009 Calera Chardonnay from California’s Central Valley, a gift from HK and BK. The Calera was more typical of a classic California chardonnay, with lovely aromas of vanilla and just the right amount of oak and butter, with some good acidity. According to the International Wine Cellar: “Greenish gold. Ripe pit fruits and melon on the nose. Supple, sappy and precise, offering lively honeydew and white peach flavors, with a touch of orange. A fruit-dominated, juicy wine that finishes with very good breadth and cling. This would be a great by-the-glass wine.”

Thanks, everyone! My next post will focus on some 50 Project red wines that hit the spot.