Wine 28, one of the biggest grapes:

2006 Oakton Lane Chardonnay

I like my whites, they're kind of a guilty pleasure that I don't partake of too often because my wife doesn't like white wines. So I'm stuck drinking a whole bottle on my own, and depending on schedules, it takes 2, 3, or even 4 or 5 nights to finish. That's a big commitment.

Anyway, this is a solid chardonnay, one I didn't mind drinking over two nights. Not overoaked, which is nice.

Wow... boring tasting note... which sort of goes for the wine, too.

Wine Count: 28; Grape Count: 26

Wines 26 and 27:

Went on vacation recently and encountered some wines from states which you normally wouldn't associate with wine... North Carolina and Virginia. First, let me talk about the great thing that the Charlotte Airport does. They have a wine bar with nothing but North Carolina wines, all at vineyard prices. The best wine we had there, and a wine we bought a bottle of for our vacation, was from the Yadkin Valley in North Carolina, the 2005 Shelton Vinyards Merlot. Not being a huge merlot drinker, though by no means having an anti-merlot prejudice [I simply find many of them too light], I was legitimately surprised at the smoothless and drinkability.

Another wine we had was from Chateau Morrisette in Virginia. Unfortunately I don't have more information on the wine, my label got ripped.

But at any rate, I bang out two more states in my quest and have a LONG way to go.

Wine Count: 27; State Count: 6

The Quarter Century Mark with a Big Name

2003 Chateau Musar Cuvee Rouge:

I've heard the name Chateau Musar muttered occasionally. Good luck finding it at shops that aren't serious about their business. A relative's wine cellar is packed with a Chateau Margaux, some Lafite-Rothschild... and Musar. He's Lebanese but still.

I purchased this wine at the Wine Library, I wasn't about to drop $40 on the GOOD Musar, so I settled for the $15 version. For me it had a vegetable component on the nose, and a definite tartness to the flavor. Lots of fruit coming through. But definitely a lighter version of whatever their main offering is.

Get a lot done with wine as far as my journey goes. Another country, and a non-traditional one at that, is knocked off [Lebanon]. Since this is a blend, I get to mark off two more grapes, Cinsault and Carignan, the first two grapes listed [no percentages] in a blend including Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.

The main Musar offering will definitely be tried eventually.

Wine Count: 25; Country Count: 12; Grape Count: 25.