Of the many, many wines we tasted at the Fort last year, which were the most popular? Some were not low cost, with the favorite Chard at $38 and Cab at $80, but there were bargains, too  – eight of  the favorites were $15 or less. So, without further adieu, here are all 22:

Whites
Chardonnay: Gary Farrell Russian River Valley 2004, $38
Gewürztraminer: Fetzer Vineyards California 2005, $9
Pinot Grigio: King Estate Oregon 2006, $16
Sauvignon Blanc: Carica Sonoma County 2005, $19
Viognier: Sobon Estate Amador County 2005, $15
White blend: Folie à Deux Napa Valley Ménage à Trois 2005, $10
Favorite exotic:  Shooting Star Washington State Aligoté 2006, $13

Pink:  I’M Wines Napa Valley Rosé 2006, $13

Reds
Barbera:     Deaver Vineyards Shenandoah Valley Signature 2003, $30
Cabernet Sauvignon: Jarvis Winery Napa Valley 2002, $80
Carignane: Frick Winery Mendocino County 2002, $16
Merlot: Kenwood Vineyards Sonoma County 2003, $25
Mourvedre: Sobon Estate Amador County 1999, $24
Petite Sirah: Huntington Cellars California 2005, $14
Pinot Noir: Gary Farrell Russian River Valley 2004, $60
Sangiovese: Monsoon Cellars Santa Barbara County 2004, $25
Syrah: Ballentine Vineyards Napa Valley 2003, $22
Tempranillo: Shenandoah Vineyards Amador County ReZerve
2004, $24
Zinfandel: Gary Farrell Dry Creek Valley 2003, $36Red blend: Silkwood Stanislaus County Red Duet 2004 , $15

Quady California Red Electra, 2005, $10 (tie)Bonny Doon Le Vol Des Agnes Monterey County Roussanne 2006, $30 (375 ml.)   

And here are few others that did not make our favorite 22, but were good enough to earn mention for other reasons.

Affordable white: Five Rivers Monterey County Chardonnay 2005, $10

Affordable red: Montevina Amador County Barbera 2005,  $10
Affordable import: Bodegas Escorihuela Gascón Don Miguel Gascón Malbec 2004, $13
Northwest wine: Duck Pond
Cellars Columbia Valley Syrah
2002, $35
Off-beat bubbly: Steele Shooting Star Lake County Black Bubbles Syrah 2003, $16
Wine book: The Art of Terroir: A Portrait of California Vineyards, by Rod Smith, photography by George Rose, Chronicle Books, San Francisco, 2007, $25

Credits: Tastings – Edgar Vogt; Statistics  – Ophie Mercado

A final gourmet grin

Sign at the entrance to a Marina bistro: Come in before we BOTH starve!

Fred McMillin was voted one of the best wine writers in the United States by the Academy of Wine Communications. Phone him with questions at 415-563-5712.