I tasted the fogdog, 2007 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay blind and it was striking. Once unbagged, it made sense. The $36 chardonnay hails from the 100 acres on the Sonoma Coast that Joseph Phelps purchased in 1999. Today Phelps’ property is well known as Freestone Vineyards and the transaction is a great example of Napa-Sonoma cross pollination.

Fogdog is complex with notes of spicy pear, toast, herbs and spice. If you’re looking for something special to uncork this weekend, it’s a treat and yes, worthy of the $36 price tag.