| Jax Top 10 April Values |
| Jax Top 20 of 2003 |
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Jax's monthly guide to what we consider the current top ten best values in wine to be. These are wines that we have tried and that we feel provide an excellent bang for the buck. Each wine will have a letter rating of the score we have given it. Camelot
Pinot Noir, 2001- "B+" "While uncomplicated, it possesses attractive fruit as well as texture." - Robert Parker Cartlidge
& Browne Chardonnay, 2000 - "A-" "The
Perennial Star from this winery has plenty of tropical fruit,
excellent purity, medium body and an unexpected textured mouthfeel.
This winery knows how to make popular, high quality wines that
sell for a song." - Robert Parker Danzante
Pinot Grigio, 2002 - "B+" Heron
Chardonnay, 2001 - "B+" Kelly’s
Promise Cabernet-Merlot, 2001 - "A" Kris
Pinot Grigio, 2002 - "A" "Fresh, medium-bodied, and fruity, with excellent purity as well as an appealing personality." - Robert Parker Latour
Chablis, 2000 - "B" Marquis
Philips Shiraz, 2002 - "A+" "Marquis
Philips is the most exciting wine project to emerge from Australia,
and perhaps the New World, in the last year. Run, don't walk,
and secure as much as you can of these wines." - Robert
Parker
Rock
Rabbit Syrah, 2001 - "A" Rondel
"Extreme" Brut Sparkling Wine, NV
- "A-"
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Good hue, light ruby colored. Aromas of strawberry, sour cherry,
and dried herbs. Some dark oak in the nose. Flavors follow aromas,
but with the addition of signature Pinot components of earth,
mushroom, and forest floor. A classicly-styled Pinot Noir. 
Pear, baked apple and ripe citrus dominate the wine's aromas
and translate to the flavors around a core of bright grapefruit.
The five months of barrel aging has added lush lees character
which frames the fruit. A rich mouthfeel and plenty of toasty
oak round out this Chardonnay.
Enticing notes of flowers, fruit and spices weave through the
fresh aromas of the 2001 Pinot Grigio. The silky flavors mirror
the aromas with nuances of pineapple, grapefruit and spices,
culminating in a crisp, dry finish. This wine enhances a vast
spectrum of dishes, from shellfish to veal and pork. Italians
love Pinot Grigio with coastal seafood dishes, antipasti (appetizers)
and primi piatti (first courses.)
Heron Chardonnay is a blend of grapes carefully chosen from
three vineyards in cool growing areas: Russian River, Carneros
and Santa Maria. The wine opens with aromas of lush pear, peach
and citrus, reveals intense weight on the palate that is tempered
by a refreshing crispness all leading to a lengthy finish of
light toasty vanilla. 
Kelly’s Promise Cabernet Merlot combines the firmness
of Cabernet Sauvignon with the softness of Merlot and retains
the natural varietal characters of both. Maturation in French
and American oak completes and balances this classic blend.
The wine is deep in color with a bouquet evocative of plums,
chocolate and cedary oak. On the palate the wine shows mouth-filling
softness as well as strength and complexity of flavor. Rich
berry fruit character is supported by fine oak tannins. Serve
with grilled steak or mushroom dishes.
The nose is all about subtle, delicate yet bright citrus fruit
and flowers. As it warms up near room temperature the aromas
become a bit stronger, but this is a wine that charms through
its restraint. On the palate it's still crisp and bright, but
lemon is met with mineral and even light piecrust flavors. Again,
it's a lighter-style white, but has a surprisingly full mouthfeel
as it warms up. Keep this Italian out of your icebox! Pairing
food and wine geographically is always a safe bet (the flavors
are usually made for each other), and this light and tasty white
goes great with lighter Italian food and creamy sauces.
The ultimate expression of what the noble Chardonnay grape is
capable of on the region's famous kimmeridgian limestone slopes.
The wine is perfumed, lively, clean and steely-tasting with
a crisp finish.
This Shiraz exhibits a huge array of flavours that covers the
spectrum from fresh berry fruits, spice, chocolate and hints
of liquorice. As you allow this wine to age, you will see the
increase in the Chocolate and spice characters, and a developed
fruit structure. 
The wine is a very pretty dark violet color. Gorgeous aromas
of stewed cherry, smoke, cedar, a touch of truffle and earth
as it opens up. The palate is full of rich and complex layers
of cherries and raspberries. Good acidity holds the wine together
straight through to the finish. The finish is long, exhibiting
an intense explosion of fruit and spice, especially clove.
More extremely fruity than dry, this "extreme brut"
is filled with soft peach and nut flavors, their fragrance lifted
by white pepper and floral tones of white lilies. Briny and
fresh, the flavors last, ready to surround the bite of a poached
shrimp.
