d’Arenberg Chardonnay, Adelaid, “The Olive Grove”, 2006 – Australia

d’Arenberg has a penchant for funny names. Their flagship bottling, for example, is the Dead Arm Shiraz. The Olive Grove Chardonnay takes its name from the olive trees that pop up between rows of vines in d’Arry’s original Chardonnay vineyard. Chester Osborne is the winemaker at the helm of this operation. He keeps things cutting edge, producing his formidable line of wines in small batches using a unique marriage of cutting edge technology and old world technique. This is a wine that smells and tastes of buttered popcorn and nectarines. On the mouth it also sports notes of fig, apple and more than a dollop of fine acidity, making it an ideal summer food wine. Not a meek wine, the generous mouthfeel of the Olive Grove combined with powerful aromatics that rip right out of the glass make this one a real crowd pleaser.

PAIRING SUGGESTIONS: Lobstah! Seriously, this wine will cuddle up nicely with any rich, buttery seafood. It’s also got the acidity to pair well with grilled root veggies or pasta salads. I can’t wait to try it with grilled endive, smoked salmon and creme fraiche.

Gerard Metz Pinot Blanc, Alsace, 2007 – France

This might just be the most fun squeezed into a bottle under 20 bucks. This month’s wines are an excercise in contrast. On the one hand, there’s a seriously rich, fully textured Chardonnay. On the other hand, you’ve got this lithe, clean wine perched on the razor’s edge when it comes to balance. The ancient estate of Gerard Metz is totally contained within the boundries of a 12 hectare vineyard in Itterswiller,Alsace. The vineyard is broken up by soil type, and in each different type of soil Herr Metz has planted a different grape variety. His Pinot Blanc thrives in mineral-rich soil that has nurtured the vines for years. Loaded full of stone fruit and melon aromatics, with a beautiful streak of acidity and weighing in happily in the medium-bodied camp, this is a glorious wine to sip on the porch or in the backyard on a hot evening.

PAIRING SUGGESTIONS: This is a wine that is crying out for a big hunk of creamy cheese. It would work especially well with Camembert or Brie.