Fine French Chocolates from zChocolat.com

Anything But Chardonnay ("ABC") Wine Reviews periodically provides our readers with current promotions that offer discounts or other incentives for purchasing wine or wine-related products and services through our partner websites. Or sometimes (like now) we highlight foods that pair deliciously with wine.

Ring in the New Year with a fine glass of champagne and superb French chocolate from zChocolat.com. For your consideration: the Luna collection (shown below), an unforgettable experience with 70 remarkably divine chocolates, all hand crafted by award winning master chocolatiers, virtuosos of their craft. Each masterpiece will seduce your senses with an array of alluring aromas, incomparable flavors and tempting textures. You can even select each and every chocolate for the ultimate personalized assortment. There's no better way to celebrate than with chocolate and champagne!

Sauvignon Republic Sauvignon Blanc 2007

Wine: Sauvignon Republic Sauvignon Blanc 2007
Origin: Russian River Valley, California
Blend: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Alcohol content: 13.8%
Bottle closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: October 2008
Purchase Price: $9.99

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Classic pale-straw color with rich pineapple, grapefruit, and tropical fruit layers and a touch of herbal “green” sauvignon notes. Multiple vineyard sources allowed the assembly of a blend that showcases fruitiness and refreshing acidity supported by a surprising richness and length of finish."

ABC Wines review: Virtually colorless, this wine has vibrant aromas of tropical fruit, most notably pineapple. The palate, however, is rather unbalanced with a mineral, almost chalky feel; there is surprisingly little fruit character. An acidity develops into the finish that quickly dissipates replaced, somewhat oddly, by a flat mixture of fruit flavors. Our score: This wine tastes as if it were poorly cellared in oak yet the winemaker states only stainless was used. A distinctly disappointing effort for a varietal that we consider to be the standard of ABC wines. Below Average.

Winery website: Sauvignon Republic.

Burgans Albarino 2007

Wine: Burgans Albarino 2007
Origin: Rias Baixas, Spain
Blend: 100% Albarino
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Bottle closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: December 2008
Purchase Price: $10.99

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Appearance: Has an attractive straw-greenish yellow colour, with ripe lemon nuances. Bright and slightly sparkling. Aroma: Stands out for its special intensity and elegance, its aroma reminiscent of damp, dewy fresh herbs with a perfume of semi-ripe apples. Palate: A fine sparkling sensation on the palate, with a complexity of tastes denoting the freshness of vegetation in the valley and the essence of the variety. Persistent, full-bodied and tasty ... a classic."

ABC Wines review: Deliciously fragrant, this wine has a bouquet of fresh tropical fruit with notes of honey. Richly fruitful on the palate with a barely noticeable effervescence, the flavors develop nicely into a round, balanced, slightly off-dry finish. Serve this wine with fresh grilled fish or chicken. Our score: A most enjoyable wine. Above Average, nearly Excellent.

Winery website: European Cellars.

Free Shipping on All Wine Baskets at My Wines Direct

Anything But Chardonnay ("ABC") Wine Reviews periodically provides our readers with current promotions that offer discounts or other incentives for purchasing wine or wine-related products and services through our partner websites. Below is a list of offers recently received that we're pleased to pass on at this time.

My Wines Direct is offering free shipping on all gift baskets through the end of the year (12/31/2008). No coupon code is required. Simply choose your wine basket and it ships for free. There are many to choose from including the Season's Greetings Gourmet Gift Basket that includes two California wines (one white, one red) and gourmet delicacies such as smoked salmon, cabernet cheese, Walkers shortbread, and Ghiradelli chocolates.

And here's another special offer: To receive 20% off your gift basket purchase of $75 or more, use code BASKET at checkout.

Click on the banner link below to begin shopping for your wine basket at My Wines Direct.

1 Cent Shipping on All Gift Baskets for One Day Only at Wine.com

Anything But Chardonnay ("ABC") Wine Reviews periodically provides our readers with current promotions that offer discounts or other incentives for purchasing wine or wine-related products and services through our partner websites. Below is a list of offers recently received that we're pleased to pass on at this time.

For one day only, today, Monday December 08, 2008, Wine.com is offering 1 cent shipping all gift baskets. Just enter code DEALBASKETS to receive your 1 cent shipping. But hurry! This offer ends today, 12/08/2008. Click on any of the banners below to start shopping or the middle banner for more information about this Deal of the Day.

  

Shop The Wine Messenger for Your Holiday Gift of Wine

Anything But Chardonnay ("ABC") Wine Reviews periodically provides our readers with current promotions that offer discounts or other incentives for purchasing wine or wine-related products and services through our partner websites. Below is a list of offers recently received that we're pleased to pass on at this time.

Visit The Wine Messenger for exclusive wine collections from around the world that make for the perfect gift this holiday season. The Wine Messenger has ideas on new wines, collector picks, and even wine accessories. You can search for wines by country, varietal, and food pairing, as well as by price. There's a large selection of wine gift sets that come in handsome boxes. Click the link above to start shopping at The Wine Messenger.

1 Cent Shipping on $99 at Wine.com

Anything But Chardonnay ("ABC") Wine Reviews periodically provides our readers with current promotions that offer discounts or other incentives for purchasing wine or wine-related products and services through our partner websites. Below is a list of offers recently received that we're pleased to pass on at this time.

Wine.com's most popular promotion, 1 cent shipping on $99, starts today! Purchase $99 or more of wine and your order ships for just 1 cent. Just enter code HOLIDAY08 to receive your 1 cent shipping. But hurry! This offer ends Friday, 12/05/2008. Click on any of the banners below to start shopping.