Archive for the ‘Chardonnay’ Category
Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Region: Sonoma County – California – USA
Cost: $20 (SRP)
Winemaker’s Notes: Straw, yellow-green in color with aromas of crisp coconut, pear, and citrus. Richly expressive with great mouth-feel, good acidity, and a touch of butter. Pairs well with Lobster ala creme, seafood lasagna, braised chicken, gnocchi with brown butter, Fontina cheese.
My Review: It was a helluva weekend around my house, and while I won’t go into details, suffice it to say that Saturday called for some wine. So when my wife and I decided that our dinner would be a mix of some cheese, crackers, and somosas, a crisp white wine sounded like a great idea. Fortunately we happened to have one chilled in the fridge.
Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Region: Russian River Valley – California – USA
Cost: $25 (SRP)
Winemaker’s Notes: Pale straw in color with aromas of freshly baked bread, honey, and lime. Slightly floral with notes of yeast, lemon, and apricot. A refreshing and balanced sparkling wine with tiny bubbles and good acidity. Pairs well with slightly spicy dishes such as crawfish etouffee, fresh seafood including halibut and oysters on the half shelll, or with soft, savory cheeses such as Brie.
My Review: So I had gone back and forth on whether to enjoy this sparkling wine with my wife by ourselves, or to take it up to my parent’s house next week to have available for Thanksgiving. It’s a good thing I opened it at home. Now, before you think I’m speaking ill of the wine, I’m not. In fact, what I was able to drink of it was quite enjoyable, with light notes of acid and apples to me and good subtle notes of honey and baked bread on the nose.
Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Region: North Carolina – USA
Cost: $15 (SRP)
Winemaker’s Notes: Straw-yellow in color with aromas of butter, lemon, wild strawberry, pear, and apple. Slight hints of oak and butter with citrus and ruby red grapefruit nuances followed by a nice lingering acidity. A nicely balanced fruit-forward wine. Pairs well with mussels, oysters Rockafeller, scallops wrapped in bacon, prawns, oak plank salmon, Asiago and Gouda cheese, and pasta with Alfredo sauce.
My Review: With some salmon in the oven, last night I decided that some Chardonnay sounded good. Fortunately I had a bottle of 2010 Biltmore Reserve Chardonnay in the fridge, so it was easy enough to make my decision a reality. It was obvious from the moment I stuck my nose in the glass that the wine had spent some time in oak, so I warned my wife before she could try any as she’s not a fan of oaked Chardonnay.
Varietal: Chardonnay with a touch of Viognier and Sauvignon Blanc
Region: 71% California; 29% North Carolina
Cost: $11 (SRP)
Winemaker’s Notes: Yellow/green in color with aromas of tropical fruit, pineapple, peach, persimmon, and mint. In the mouth the wine is fresh and fruity with a touch of butter; a smooth wine with a medium body. Pairs well with seafood, chicken, pasta, and light dishes.
My Review: I’ll admit that I wasn’t sure what to expect out of this bottle. Not only did I not know what the percentages on the blend were (though I’d make a rough guess that the Viognier and Sauvignon Blanc account for less than 10% of the wine), but blending two grapes not just from different regions in a state, but from different states, seemed odd to me.
Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Region: Santa Lucia Highlands – Monterey – California
Cost: $17
Winemaker’s Notes: Mineral driven nose with citrus shining through. Cement tank fermentation and aging bring out aromas remindful of the first rain of the season or a wet rock. Soft and round entry with an acid backbone informs you these grapes are grown in a cooler climate. Mid palate reveals ripe fruit such as lemons, gooseberry, and grapefruit. Finishes dry while the acid comes and goes in a balanced fashion. Laser sharp minerality carries through from start to finish on both palate and aroma.
My Review: I’m going to be completely honest – my wife and bought this wine purely because the bottle was interesting and the wheels of the review were turning in my head the second I saw it. Before I get to the point I really want to make, let’s briefly talk about the wine.
Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Region: Columbia Valley – Washington
Cost: $14 (SRP)
Winemaker’s Notes: Intense northern latitude west coast style. Angular, sharp, and grown for food consumption. Apple, flint, citrus, and stone define the palette. A classic north west style.
My Review: As you’ll recall, when I had the 2009 Sauvignon Blanc from the Hedges Family, I didn’t hate it, but I also wasn’t in love with it. Because of that, as I was opening up the 2010 Chardonnay, I was, understandably, a bit apprehensive. I’ve enjoyed their reds so far, so I kinda wanted to enjoy the whites as well. I shouldn’t have been worried.
