Bel Arbor

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Bel Arbor 1999 Merlot

Best Buy

Price $6

This has got to be one of the earliest releases of '99 Merlot and it smells young, with grapey, syrupy aromas reminiscent of Beaujolais Nouveau. Tastes like it, too, with tremendously juicy, fresh fruity flavors. It's also very clean and swift. Delicious and gulpable, although not especially complex. Best Buy. — S.H. (11/15/2000)

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Bel Arbor 1999 Cabernet Sauvignon

Best Buy

Price $6

One of the first 1999 Cabs on the market, this wine smells and tastes like the grapes were crushed yesterday. This is what middleweight Cabernet Sauvignon sans oak tastes like: all fresh blackberries and cherries, with undercurrants of espresso and sweet spice. A remarkably tasty wine that should be easy to find: There were 65,000 cases produced. — S.H. (12/15/2000)

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Bel Arbor 2000 Chardonnay (Mendocino County)

Best Buy

Price $6

Has some noticeable oak, with the expected vanilla, smoke and spicy notes floating above tangerine fruit flavors. The texture is creamy and full, although low acidity makes it flabby and robs it of life. It’s a common wine but, at this price, it’s pretty enough for your next block party. —S.H. — S.H. (5/1/2002)

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Bel Arbor 2000 Merlot (Mendocino County)

Best Buy

Price $6

Gets the job done with a burst of jammy Lifesaver aromas and flavors. Lightly structured. There are some less ripe, green, stalky flavors that lead to a tart finish in this dry wine. — S.H. (7/1/2002)

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Bel Arbor 1998 Chardonnay

Price $6

From Fetzer. Pretty lemon and lime aromas and flavors. Zesty and clean and uncomplicated by oak. Nothing fancy here, but you could buy a case for what some California Chards cost. Serve it to your martini-drinking boss. — S.H. (7/1/1999)

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Bel Arbor 1999 Chardonnay

Price $6

A $6 Chardonnay from California? Yes, but don't expect too much. There's some decent green apple and pear fruit, okay acidity, and it's clean as technology can make it. But it doesn't rise above the level of a country-style wine. They say it was partially barrel-fermented, but it's hard to detect any oak. — S.H. (11/15/2000)

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