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So many foods simply taste sublime with the right amount of smokiness added to them – everything from meats to veggies, I’m a huge fan of “the smoke”.

Here’s an easy way to infuse your foods with some smokey goodness.

1. Take a heavy pan (Cast Iron preferred) and line the bottom with aluminum foil
2. Add in whatever type of wood chips you prefer (i.e. alder, hickory etc.)
3. Place a steamer basket above the chips
4. Add the ingredients to be smoked on top of the basket
5. After you add the ingredients, cover over with another layer of foil and then place the lid
6. Smoke until you get the desired amount of smokiness

By Duane Pemberton
Winery website: http://www.ridgewine.com

Ridge Vineyards is known the world-over for producing exceptional Zinfandel but they also make wines from other varietals such as this Chardonnay as well as some red blends.

At a MSRP of $60, this is one of the more expensive, domestic Chardonnay’s I’ve tasted and while I know the price will put some folks off because it’s simply a “chardonnay” – like all wines at any price, we should taste them first before judging its value.

Technical Data: 

• Vineyard Source:  Monte Bello,
• Bottled January 2010
• 100% chardonnay
• 14.1% alcohol by volume
• Harvest Dates: 2 September – 8 September
• Harvest Conditions: Average Brix 23.4°
• Fermentation: Whole-cluster pressed. Juice aerated and racked to barrel for natural primary and secondary.
• Selection: Two of the ten Monte Bello Vineyard chardonnay parcels
• Barrels: 90% air-dried American oak (10% new, 66% one and two years, 24% three years old) & 10% French oak barrels.
• Aging: Sixteen months in barrel
• Price: $60

Nose: Ripe cantaloupe, cream soda, lightly-toasted marshmellow, honeydew, lemon peel, vanilla and toasted hazelnut.

Taste: Fresh melon salad with hints of vanilla, toasted nuts and lemon. superb mid-palate transition with a beautiful combination of acids and fruit. The finish is nearly sublime and easily one of the best “new-world” chardonnay’s I’ve had.

W.E.P. Rating: 95%

By Duane Pemberton
Winery website:  http://www.matrot.com/

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not the most well-versed with it comes to Burgundy wines but I can tell you that it was a “white Burgundy” that I had a few months ago that was not only the single-best bottle of wine I’ve ever had, it was a “life changer”.

It completely smashed any conceptions I may have had about how great a wine – much less, a “white” – could be. The levels of complexity were simply unmatched. Since that time, I’ve been on the hunt to not only start reviewing more wines from this famous French region but to also find some great values as well.

This $22 Chardonnay from Matrot knocked my socks off – for the money, it is the best bottle of Chardonnay I’ve had.

Technical Data: 

• Grape Variety: Chardonnay.
• Average age of the vines: 30 years.
• Pressing of the entire grapes in a pneumatic press.
• Indigenous yeasts.
• Fermentation for 8 to 10 weeks in oak barrels, 15 to 20% of which are new.
• Temperature control (18-20 °C).
• Maturing on lees for 11 months.
• “Bâtonnage” (stirring up of the lees) depending on the vintage.
• Complete malolactic fermentation.
• Bottling after one racking.
• Price: $22

Nose: Pineapple, marshmallow, oyster shell, pear, baking spice, apricot and hazelnut.

Taste: Quite easily the best Chardonnay under $25 I’ve ever had – stellar combination of fruit, mouthfeel and finish. This is a $22 white that in many ways “drinks like a red” in that it has a very “soft mouthfeel” that also has a good balance of acid and fruit. The finish lingers on quite well and begs to be paired with shellfish, alfredo sauce or even chowders.

W.E.P. Rating: 150%

• Varietal Composition: Cabernet Sauvignon
• Vineyard Sources: 27% Seven Hills Vineyard, 20% Phinney Hill Vineyard, 12% Portteus Vineyard, 10% Dionysus Vineyard, 10% Klipsun Vineyard, 9% Va Piano Vineyard,  7% Chelle den Millie Vineyard and 5% Destiny Ridge Vineyard
• Oak Composition: 50% New French, 50% Neutral French
• Barrel Aging: 23 months
• 14.4% Alcohol,
• .60 TA
•  3.75pH
• Price: $40

Nose: Peppered raspberries, cherries, dark cocoa powder, tobacco leaf, fruit cake, black licorice and slightly burnt leather.

Taste: Insane layers of red fruit combined with licorice, blackberry preserves, peppercorns, dark chocolate and leather. Good mid palate transition that kicks in a good amount of still-young tannin and a fair amount of acidity to keep things held together well into the finish. The finish lingers a combo of black and red fruits with more of that lovely licorice action. Drinks good now – should be insantly stellar in another 5 years.

W.E.P. Rating: 95%

By Duane Pemberton
Winery website:  http://www.chateauchantal.com/

While the state of Michigan has been gaining traction for some of its tasty white wines, the reds – for many – have not been what they’re looking for. The industry there is still very young and a lot of wineries are still trying to figure out what grows the best in each micro-climate.

This is a red blend that sources grapes from both the Old Mission Peninsula area as well as some Malbec from Argentina.

Technical Data: 

• Blend (if any): 68% Michigan Red Blend, 32% Malbec
• Bottling Date: Continuous
• Appellation: Michigan
• Residual Sugar: .5%
• Alcohol at Bottling: 12%
• Total Acid at Bottling: 6.5 g/l
• pH at bottling 3.52
• Oak usage None
• Price: $11.49

Nose: Smoked cedar plank, peppercorn, cranberry, mocha and red delicious apple,

Taste: A well-structured Pinot blend that really does a good job of showcasing that beautiful, cranberry tartness up front and then follows it with savory notes of smoke, cocoa, cedar, spice and raisin. Good combo of fruit, tannin and acid that create a desireable mid palate and lead into a finish that lingers pretty good. Because there’s no oak in this wine, it has a rather “fresh”, young feel to it and for some situations that’s not a bad thing at all.

W.E.P. Rating: 90%

By Duane Pemberton
Winery website: http://www.saviahcellars.com

A lot of wineries have figured out that in order to grow revenue, coming up with a quality second-label at the sub-$20 price-point is a great idea. Even though Saviah has been lavished in praised by both fans and crititcs, owner/winemaker, Richard Funk launched the “Jack” line of second-label wines a few years ago and has seen it really help pick up with widespread acclaim.

2010 Jack Riesling – W.E.P. Rating: 90%

Technical Data: 

• Appellation: Columbia Valley
• Vineyards: Evergreen Vineyard
• pH: 3.12TA: 8.4 g/100mL
• Residual Sugar: 1.79%
• Alcohol: 12.4%
• Price:  $15

Nose: Lemon curd, kiwi, papya, granite, oyster shell, wet stone, pear and fuji apple.

Taste: This is a very “well-rounded” riesling in that it’s one that will cater to a HUGE audience – it’s not bone dry and not too sweet at all. Think of it as the bed that Goldilox fit “perfectly” into. Subtle “roundness” to it with enough acidity to keep it from seeming “flabby”. The mid palate is super “bright” without being “candified” (i.e. too much sugar), yet the finish feels nice and off-dry. A solid riesling that will easily placate well to a wide audience.

2010 Jack Cabernet Sauvignon – W.E.P. Rating: 120%

Technical Data:

• Appellation: Columbia Valley
• Vineyards: Pepper Bridge Vineyard, Stillwater Creek Vineyard, Bacchus Vineyard, Seven Hills Vineyard, Mirage Vineyard
• Composition: 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Frac
• pH: 3.71
• TA: 0.57 g/100mL
• Alcohol: 14.1%
• Price:  $18

Nose: Black currant, tinderbox cigar shop, dark cocoa, leather glove, bramble, pencil lead and black cherry.

Taste: Beautiful, balanced flavors of black cherry, black raspberry, bramble berry, dark chocolate, spice, leather, tobacco and tar. I really appreciate the tannin and acids acros the mid palate which really do a lot – quite easily the best-tasting WA cab that I’ve had for the money.

2010 Jack Red Wine – W.E.P. Rating: 110%

Technical Data:

• Appellation: Columbia Valley
• Vineyards: Pepper Bridge Vineyard, Stone Ridge, Mirage Vineyard McClellan Estate Vineyard, Stillwater Creek Vineyard, Destiny Ridge, Frenchmen Hills Vineyard
• Composition: 80% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec,
• pH: 3.63
• TA: 0.59 g/100mL
• Alcohol: 14.1%
• Price:  $18

Nose: Black cherries, black raspberries, cigar wrapper, old socks, leather, pipe tobacco, leather and a hint of shoe polish.

Taste: Plum skins, raisins, pepper corns, blueberries, game, beef jerky, pie crust, black mud and tar. This is one heullva glass of wine for the money – it’s so on-point in regards to its overall complexity, drinkability and food-friendliness that it’s really hard to fault it. For $18 – it is in fact a total no-brainer and shows that Washington State can easily compete with the likes of Spain or Argentina at this price point.

2010 Jack Syrah – W.E.P. Rating: 90%

Technical Data:

• Appellation: Columbia Valley
• Vineyards: Lewis Vineyard, Stillwater Creek Vineyard, Songbird Vineyard, Ranch at the End of the Road, Elephant Mountain Vineyard
• Composition: 75% Syrah, 21% Sangiovese, 2% Malbec, 2% Cabernet franc
• pH 3.75
• Total Acidity 0.55 g/100mL
• Alcohol 14.3%
• Cooperage: 100% American oak barrels - 20% New
• Production: 980 Cases
• Price: $18

Nose: Charred wood – an almost burnt match-like aroma – is what I’m getting right off the bat. This is followed by smells of root beer, black cherry, pencil lead, leather and shoe polish.

Taste: Super tight tannins speak to the youth of this wine – they are nicely complimented by dark fruits, a splash of wild game and nice acids. This is a young Syrah that shows good potential to be even better in 2-3 more years – until then, decant it and enjoy. The finish isn’t nearly as long as I’d prefer but overall not a bad wine at all for the money.

By Duane Pemberton
Winery website: http://www.sevenofheartswine.com/

While so many Oregon wineries focus in on the grapes that they can grow well, there are a few that source fruit from neighboring Washington State to make some very interesting blends.  This bottle of Seven Hills captures a common blend of Syrah and Grenache to make a very food-friendly wine.

Technical Data: 

• Cases Produced: 119
• Varietal Breakdown: 60% Grenache, 40% Syrah
• Vineyards: 15 year old vines near Goldendale, WA
• Harvest Dates: September 27 – October 27, 2009
• Bottling Date: September 2010
• Cooperage: All 1-year or older French oak
• Alcohol: 14.5%
• Price: $25

Nose: Nice aromas of “forest funk”, rhubarb, cedar and spice. I also get notes of white pepper, cherries, and cranberry.

Taste: Very nice overall dryness to this wine that I enjoy a lot – great acidity and enough tannin backbone that make it very enjoyable to me as well as food friendly. Good flavors of smoked-cherry, white pepper and rhubarb pie filling lead way into a nice splace of cedar shavings that linger nicely

W.E.P. Rating: 100%

By Duane Pemberton
Suzuki website: http://www.suzukiauto.com/

The Suzuki Grand Vitara is a mid-sized, all-wheel-drive SUV that is built in a very utilitarian fashion that should cater to the outdoor enthusiast. It’s small overall dimensions not only mean it’ll fit into trails that full-size SUVs often cant but also means a reduction in weight that results in added fuel savings.

The engine is a 2.4-Litre 4-cylinder that pumps out 166hp and 162 lb-ft. of torque – powering a full-time 4×4 SUV, this powerplant comes across as being quite a bit under-powered for a vehicle of this weight. It’s mated to a CVT 4-speed automatic. It’s okay for off-road, where you don’t need a ton of power but can prove a bit on the painful side if you’re trying to pass someone on the freeway or even for those times when you need to hurry to pick up some wine before the tasting room closes.

With seat material that is totally water-proof and rubber floor mats, this is a rig that is begging for mud. Even though it’s not the leather package, I found the interior of this model to actually be far more appropriate for the intended use of a 4×4 SUV like this. I mean, who wants to get cloth floor mats and leather upholstery all dirty?

There are plenty of creature-comforts inside, including a good-sounding audio system that does have an auxillary audio input jack but unfortunately no USB ports. It will play back CD’s encoded with mp3 or WMA and also features satellite radio support as well.

Perhaps one of the coolest features inside is also rather unique to this vehicle and that’s the inclusion of a removable Garmin GPS unit that supports Bluetooth connectivity to your cell phone, among other things. How handy is it to have a GPS device that snaps in and out to take with you? I think it’s a brilliant idea and one that I hope other manufacturers condsider implementing in their own cars as well.

Ride quality is good and supportive in day to day handling – it seems to have a good balance between stiff and subtle. Even on longer trips, I didn’t ever feel “worn-out” – the seats are supportive but could use more adjustments. The suspension felt very appropriate to this class of SUV – overall a good experience in that regard.

The only real drivetrain control the driver has is the ability to disengage traction control, other than that there is no various modes you can select from – the  vehicle just automatically adjusts itself to whatever it “thinks” needs to be done.

Overall, for the money, this is a solid little SUV that should be on your consideration if you’re in the market for a rig like this – it gets decent fuel economy, will wash-out very easily and looks good all in doing so.

If this car was a bottle of wine, I’d liken it to a bottle of Chilean Carmenere – it has enough “spice” to make it interesting and is rather affordable.

By Duane Pemberton
Winery website: http://www.volpaia.com

Chianti is still king in my house when it comes to picking a nearly-perfect wine to pair with pasta dishes – the acids they exhibit as well as complexity of flavors make them a no-brainer for the complex flavors to be found in many of today’s favorite Italian dishes.

This little gem of a wine can be found for $20 or under and fits the bill quite nicely as a table wine with friends or to pound down with a bowl of spaghetti and meatballs.

Technical Data: 

• Grapes: Sangiovese 90%, Merlot / Syrah 10%
• Alcohol: 13.5%
• Altitude: 1450 feet above sea level
• Soil: Decomposing sandstone providing light soil rich in lime and texture
• Vineyards: Piano al Prato, Campo a Pitti, Piaggia degli Abati, Casetto, Santa Maria Novella
• Price: $20

Nose: Beautiful mix of poo-laden black fruit. I get notes of forest floor, mushroom, black pepper, dark chocolate and plums.

Taste: This is a very classic-tasting Chianti in that it has the fruit, body (mouthfeel) but is nicely acid-driven. The net result is wine that simply cries out to be paired with tomato-based dishes, pastas or even stewed lamb and game.

W.E.P. Rating: 120%

By Duane Pemberton
Winery website: http://www.baselcellars.com/

Even though Merlot may have gone out of vogue with some wine drinkers, it’s still very much at the forefront of many of us who have not lost our love for this illustrious grape. Justin Basel produced this Merlot and has a lot of reasons to be proud of it.

Technical Data:

• Appellation: Walla Walla
• Vineyards: Pheasant Run
• Alcohol Content: 14.5%
• Case Production: 597
• Released: Nov 2010
• Price: $28

Nose: Nice notes of pencil-lead-lined blackberry pie filling, medicine cabinet, black cherries, black plums and boysenberry. I also get a backdrop of smells that include

Taste: Stellar combination of blackfruits that have been a bit “colafied” – toss in some black peppercorns, a nice mouthfeel and you have the makings for one of the better merlot’s I’ve had recently. A very good effott, the likes of which could compete against the Long Shadows Pedestal Merlot.

W.E.P. Rating: 120%