Price: $6

Producer: Stony Hollow

Origin: Central Valley, Chile

Type of wine: Dry white wine made from Chardonnay grapes

Try it with: A simple-drinking wine, casual food, picnic food – chips & dip, sandwiches, fried chicken

Date Reviewed: Feb. 2004

t’s very difficult to find a good wine once you drop below the $9 mark. Stony Hollow Chardonnay is a simple wine without much pretense. It is made using stainless steel tanks, so there are no oak-derived accents such as vanilla or caramel. Surprisingly, there is a hint of sur lie (creamy/yogurt) character in the glass. Simple green and yellow apple scents dominate. This light gold wine is medium bodied and fairly balanced in the mouth. The fruit flavors in the nose continue into the palette. Stony Hollow does have a slight creamy finish with a little overemphasized alcohol (some might say it finishes hot). Overall, a drinkable $6 wine that won’t intrude on a casual lunch or picnic.