Terrific Unoaked Chardonnay from California

For the Chardonnay fans who are looking for an incredible summer value, you came to the right place this month!  Look no further than the 2012 Smoking Loon Steelbird Unoaked Chardonnay, widely available for a remarkable $8US!  The 2012 Smoking Loon Steelbird is a crisp, delicious Chard, with green apple and citrus overtone and without the over-oaked, buttery offerings of many California Chardonnays.  The Smoking Loon Chard was recently selected by the Wine Spectator editors as their Best Buy of the Week, with James Laube singing the praises of the domestic white: “It sings and dances from start to finish,” while awarding the wine an impressive 89 rating.   This is a truly amazing white wine for any price, but the fact that it retails for less than a ten note makes it a perfect wine for Wednesday night chicken dinner–or grilled fish on Saturday with your best friends!   A case of wine of this caliber for less than $100–that is about the same cost as a classic Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon!   Value, anyone?