(3) Soft white wines

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: soft
• Look for at: wine.com

This is one of the best white wines that I have tried this year. Starting out with a nose full of lemon mousse, pears, apples, and honey, this Oregon wine does not stop. This is a medium bodied wine with a creamy texture, balanced by just the right amount of acid. I love Pinot Gris, and this offering from Elk Cove is not to be missed. ($19)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: soft
• Look for at: wine.com

This rosé from Valencia came home with me for two reasons. First, the wine is made from Bobal, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon, and Bobal is yet another grape in my quest for membership in De Long’s Wine Century Club. Second, the wine was recommended by my good friend Michael (not the Michael of this website) at Central Market. I can now add a third reason, it is a good rosé. With a pleasant nose of watermelon and plums and a mouth full of light red fruit and watermelon, this is a summer wine. It paired well with grilled quail. ($11)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: soft
• Look for at: wine.com

Les Charmes from Cav de Lugny is the best selling white Burgundy in the US. Produce from a single vineyard of old vines, this Macon is a little richer and rounded in the mouth than most. Showing green apple, a little mineral, and a touch of parmesan cheese, this is a great wine for a simple meal or for simply drinking. ($10)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: soft
• Look for at: wine.com

The more I drank this 2006 Chardonnay from Edna Valley Vineyard, the more I liked it. Only lightly oaked, the oaky and spicy aromas are well-balanced by aromas of peach and pineapple. Medium-full bodied and coming in at 13.9% alcohol, it still has enough acid and light enough oak to go well with the traditional pairings of seafood, chicken, or pork. And at $11, it’s a pretty good price for a Chardonnay from California. ($11)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: soft
• Look for at: wine.com

This big rosé from the Carinena region of Spain is no wimp. Composed of 50% Cabernet and 50% Tempranillo, this rosé has muscle. The must was allowed 12 hours of contact time with the skin before it was drawn off, giving the wine a deep strawberry color. The nose shows rich strawberries with floral overtones. In the mouth, the wine is full, with plenty of structure and a long finish. Parker gave this wine a 90, which I think is a bit high, but this is a great value nonetheless. I would pair this Rosé with pork or even a grilled hamburger. ($7.5-10)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: soft
• Look for at: wine.com

Inama is one of my favorite producers of Italian white wines, particularly Soaves, but I cannot get enough of his Vulcania Sauvignon Blanc. This unfiltered “Sauv Blanc” has an unbelievable citrus and lemon mousse nose. The wine is nice and round in the mouth with enough acid to balance any food. The finish just keeps going and going. For around $20, this wine might make you overlook your Pouilly-Fumes. ($20-24)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: soft
• Look for at: wine.com

Chateauneuf du-Pape is the best known red wine region in France, but it also produces some of my favorite white wines. The 2006 from Brunel is made from predominantly Roussanne with a little Grenache Blanc and Clairette. In the glass, the wine is a rich gold color. The nose opens with spicy fruit, apricot, and is a little spicy; I also notice a little cheese right out of the bottle. The wine has a great round feel with a long finish. ($32-37)

• Our rating:
• Wine 101 style: soft
• Look for at: wine.com

This wine from New Zealand exhibits the extra care that was taken with its production. A portion of this wine was aged on the lees to add body and richness. The wine was also subjected to malolactic fermentation, which added additional body and a rich texture to the wine. A deep sniff reveals a nose of melons and citrus, and in the mouth, the wine offers plenty of plums, melons, and citrus. This wine has a mouth watering acidity that cries out for food: try a glass with a plate of oysters on the half shell. ($18-20)