Dunning Vineyards Wine Review – Womens Wine Council – November 15th, 2011
By Guest Writer: Judee Smith

Wine Chix Linda Kissam (Back) & Guest Wine Chix Judee Smith (Front)

Dunning Vineyards Chardonnay

I enjoyed another lovely evening with the ladies of the Womens Wine Council. Our wine selections were from Dunning Vineyards in Paso Robles.  We sampled a Chardonnay and three very nice reds.  I thought all were very good but, as usual, the opinions of rankings from the ladies varied. That is what is so wonderful about wine. All of our pallets are different which causes such interesting conversations in our group. It is so much better to share your wine and compare your comments.

Being a Chardonnay drinker, I had to choose Dunning’s 2009 Estate Chardonnay as my favorite. All the ladies enjoyed this one. Aged in 50% French Oak, it fit the description of the buttery oak flavor that I look for in a Chardonnay.  This wine is full-bodied and it easily stood up to most of the foods that I sampled with it. From the fontina pizza to the persimmon wrapped in prosciutto with a touch of balsamic vinegar drizzled on it, this wine was complimentary.

My second choice was Dunning’s 2008 Estate Vin De Casa, a blend of 45% Cabernet Franc, 35% Zinfandal and 20% Syrah. I found the intermingling of these varietals to be very successful. The combination brings berry, dark current and spice flavors to this wine with just a touch of oak. It is a bit heavier than I usually enjoy but its flavor and smoothness won me over. It was excellent with a delicious turkey lasagna we sampled. I also enjoyed it with the strong flavor of the Gorgonzola cheese with roasted hazelnuts and cranberries. This would be an outstanding choice for any pasta dish.