Wine from my collection: Domaine Du Tariquet 2006 Cote Tariquet Chardonnay/Sauvignon Blanc Gascogne

A long name for an inexpensive ($14.99) and versatile white wine, half chardonnay, half sauvignon blanc. It's a bit too sweet on first opening, but it achieves better balance as it opens up. It's got the grassy structure of a sauvignon blanc, but with the buttery mouth-feel and heavy sweetness of a chard. It's a weird combination, and I'm still not sure I like it. It's not bad...I think this is more of a food wine than a drinking wine. (That is, a wine better paired with food than drunk on its own.)

Then again, I was never a huge fan of chardonnay. That might be part of it.