With grapefruit and abundant citrus, the light-bodied 2009 Sauvignon Blanc Starmont is another good value. Merryvale's 2009 Chardonnay Starmont offers notes of white peaches and citrus in a medium-bodied, fresh, lively style. It possesses more texture and flavor authority than one would expect for a wine in this price range. Tel. (707) 963-2225

Some people will call this wine New Zealand-esque, but it’s really rather unripe. It has an excess of feline, green aromas and flavors, and not even partial barrel fermentation and the addition of Semillon mitigate that minty harshness. ——S.H.(11/15/2008)—— 82