Today's recommended wine
Sebastiani, 2008 Russian River Unwooded Chardonnay (Calif.), $17
From the "Appellation Series" by Sebastiani, the Chardonnay was fermented and aged in stainless steel, a style that is not very common in California but usually sails with connoisseurs. Good fruit does not always need the added spice and heft of oak. But Russian River without oak? Now that's unusual -- because the fruit is so lush. Sebastiani shows you can do it without wood. The Bartlett pear, citrus, lime, minerality character stands tall all by itself. There is a richness of the fruit on the midpalate that drives straight through to the finish. Nice wine.
