Annabella: Good, Reasonably Priced Wines from California

Mike Peterson, owner of Bellingham’s The Vines wine shop and Du Jour Bistro recently recommended that I try a couple of new arrivals he enjoyed from California. He thought they tasted as good as wines that were twice the price – and he was right.

The wines were from Annabella, one of three labels produced by Michael Pozzan Winery from California’s Napa Valley. Pozzan has a pedigree from winemaking families that extends back to Italy’s Piedmont region since the mid-1800s. He founded his own winery in Oakville, California in 1991, which he currently owns and operates.

Here are my notes on the two wines I sampled:

Annabella 2004 Chardonnay (about $9) – A delicious, medium bodied white with lots of baked apple flavors and a hint of spice. The finish is accentuated by just the right amount of toasty oak.

Annabella 2002 Merlot (about $12) – Another tasty wine with a little bit of blackberry, a little bit of plum and a touch of black pepper. Soft tannins give the wine an elegant finish.

The Vines is located at 1319 Cornwall Avenue. More information: Phone 714-1161.