Check, Please! Bay Area reviews: Chef Chu's, Lanesplitter, chiaroscuro

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My name is Leslie Sbrocco and I'm the host of Check, Please! Bay Area. Each week, I will be sharing my tasting notes about the wine the guests and I drank on set during the taping of the show. I will also share some wine tips with each episode.

2010 Trione Sauvignon Blanc, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California $23
Grape growers in Sonoma for more than three decades, the Trione family is well known in the wine business. Only recently have they begun to bottle their own wines and their commitment to quality is evident. This white is juicy and fresh but with a creamy character that makes it ideal for pairing with foods from shellfish to cheese.

2009 Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District, Napa Valley, California $60
I've long been a fan of Cabernet from the iconic Stags Leap District. This unique sub-zone of Napa produces reds that are elegant yet still powerful. They've been called "an iron fist in a velvet glove" and that sums up the supple style of Stags Leap Cab. A rising star, Cliff Lede winery is producing some of the best from the area and this is a stunning wine. Drink now or cellar for up to a decade.