The Good Wine Guru » Chardonnay

Biltmore Reserve Chardonnay Sonoma County 2010

George — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 15:00:27 +0000

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.

The wine was very light in the glass, with hints of green running through it, and on the nose it was crisp with notes of citrus and pear. In the mouth I got apple mostly, with nice crisp acid all the way through, which did a nice job of cutting through the slight heat on the samosas and of course went just fine with some sharp cheddar and crackers. Despite the “Reserve” label, this wine is in fact un-oaked.

I’d be lying if I said this was some revolutionary wine, but around this time of year I suspect most people are more in the market for a serviceable white and red that they can serve at holiday parties, and this certainly fits that bill. It certainly won’t make anybody stand up and take notice, but it also probably won’t make them turn up their nose and search for a glass of something else.

Biltmore Estate Blanc de Blancs Methode Champenoise Brut 2007

George — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 15:00:10 +0000

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.

No, the reason that it’s a good thing I opened the bottle at home is because it exploded. Now, I’m not going to claim to be an expert at all things sparkling wine, but I do know how to open them without them blowing up in my face, and when I eased the cork out of the bottle, the fount of wine covered the better part of my kitchen, so it’s a good thing it happened at my house on a Monday night as opposed to at my parent’s house all over Thanksgiving dinner.

The Cork That Started an Explosion

I’m not positive, but I suspect that this cork had something to do with the explosion of wine all over my kitchen. Pretty sure my floor is going to be sticky for a while. Either way, we lost half the wine, but were able to sip at the rest, and I will say that what I was able to taste was enjoyable. Mind you, I can’t speak for certain on whether or not the wine was compromised as to what the winemaker intended, but it certainly still had plenty of tiny bubbles and good crisp flavors.

I’m certain that I just got the bad luck of the draw on this sample, and to be honest if it was going to happen to somebody, it’s better that it was me with a sample that was sent to me than somebody that purchased the wine. If you’re looking for an approachable sparkling wine to put out for your holiday dinners and parties, I think that the crisp flavors will appeal to a lot of palates, even those that don’t normally drink sparkling wine.

Biltmore Reserve Chardonnay 2010

George — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 14:00:20 +0000

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.

As for the aromas I got, I picked up the typical butter notes with some apple and a touch of banana. In the mouth there was a good balance of acidity and oak, with tropical notes and a nice nutty finish that I found quite appealing. The wine paired well with the salmon and some orzo pasta that we cooked up, and thanks to a light oak/nutty finish, it was easy enough to drink after the food was gone.

I know that my wife doesn’t prefer oaked Chardonnay, but even she tried the wine again after it had some time to open up and admitted that the oak wasn’t really that bad on it, so if you’re not a fan of oak on your Chardonnay, I’d still say give this one a try as it’s not overwhelming.

If you can’t find the 2010 Biltmore Reserve Chardonnay at your local store (and I’ve yet to see them at mine), you can follow this link and have it shipped directly to you at your work or home.

Biltmore Chardonnay Sur Lies NV American

George — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:00:43 +0000

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.

The wine was rather dark in the glass, a nice robust yellow and on the nose I got the typical Chardonnay notes of tropical fruit and pineapple. In the mouth I got more of the tropical notes with just a hint of citrus that I’ll chalk up to the “touch” of Sauvignon Blanc in the wine. Some of the wine had seen barrels, but I was pleased by how soft the finish on the wine was, especially given my wife’s distaste for oaked Chardonnay.

Paired with a dinner of grilled chicken that had been liberally seasoned and some asparagus the overall crispness of the wine did a nice job of cutting through the bit of heat on the chicken. After the food was gone it was enjoyable enough to sip on. All in all the wine wasn’t a total disappointment, though I’ll also say it didn’t really grab my attention. I think my wife summed it up best when she described the wine as “not bad” with a shrug.

If you want to give the Biltmore Chardonnay Sur Lies a try and can’t find it in your local store, you can follow this link and order it online.

Mer Soleil Silver Chardonnay 2010

George — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 14:00:09 +0000

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.

The wine was, to be honest, really unremarkable. There was nothing distinctly wrong with it, but neither was there anything that really made me stand up and take notice, which is a shame given the unique bottle they chose. The chardonnay is unoaked and while the citrus notes on the palate and on the nose weren’t surprising, they weren’t anything to brag about either. I’m not always in search of something that will rock my world so long as it doesn’t present a let down either, and yet somehow this wine manages to fit that bill without really inspiring me to want to buy another bottle at the same time.

Now, on to the point I really want to make. Despite the wine not being anything I’d concern myself with in the future, I was in love with the bottle. In spite of ho-hum wine, this vineyard just got themselves a sale because of a choice of unique packaging. The old adage that we eat with our eyes doesn’t really apply to wine because the packaging limits our ability to see the wine until we’ve already purchased and poured. Because of that, the packaging becomes more important.

I know there are plenty of other wine bloggers that rail against unique and interesting labels because they claim that good wines don’t need it. That’s great when you’re talking about those of us that follow vineyard reports and regularly meet with winemakers and so know exactly what’s going on with the wine before it ever even makes it into the bottle. For the average consumer, that’s just not an option.

A bottle on the shelf that grabs the attention and at least gets the shopper to pick up the bottle and read the description gives them a better than even chance of selling that bottle versus every other bottle on the shelf. There’s NOTHING wrong with taking enough pride in your wine to want to put a little effort into the way it’s presented to customers at a store. I appreciate vineyards and wineries that go the extra mile with their labeling and it’s certainly lead me to grab some bottles that if not amazing, were certainly interesting talking points later down the line.

I’m not saying that an interesting label or bottle design can make or break a wine, but there’s certainly no reason to think that just because a wine is in a bottle with a unique design or label that it’s somehow inferior for that reason.

The House of Independent Producers Chardonnay 2010

George — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 14:00:27 +0000

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.

The wine is unoaked, but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t any body to it. Still, the nice crisp finish that you would expect from an unoaked Chardonnay was there, with the flavors of apple and flint really coming through in a way that I quite enjoyed.

Paired with a dinner of salmon and orzo pasta it was a great pairing, with the acid of the wine cutting through the fat of the fish beautifully. Of the two whites I’ve had from this producer, the Chardonnay was by far the one I preferred, and one I would definitely consider picking up if I came across it in the store. Given my wife’s….distaste for oaked Chardonnay, this was a great wine as it was unoaked for her, but still had some body and roundness to it for me.

I would definitely recommend this wine and you can even have it sent to you by visiting the Hedges Family Estates website if you can’t find it at your local store.

Saying Goodbye to Summer

George — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 14:00:02 +0000

Well, the end of summer isn’t that far away, so when I was recently sent a mixed case of summer white wines, it seemed a shame to sit on them and try to go through them each individually as I would have quickly run out of summer by the time I was able to get to them all. With that in mind I invited some friends over, opened up all the wines, and tasted them all at once, because let’s be honest, that’s what summer’s really all about. Here’s what I thought.

The first one I tasted was the 2010 La Fiera Pinot Grigio (SRP $8). I got mostly apples on both the nose and the palate with a nice lingering finish with just the right amount of acid. There was a slight hint of sweetness to my palate, but for being the first one I tried, it was a good start and it’s a good value for these kinds of parties.

Next up were two from Tiamo. First was the Tiamo Prosecco (SRP $15) which had a hint of citrus on the nose with medium sized bubbles and a slight bit of yeast on the palate and a mix of crisp fruit. This was definitely not a super-dry Prosecco and it was quickly consumed by my friends.

The other was the 2010 Tiamo Pinot Grigio (SRP $12) which I found to have some citrus on the nose and apple and lime in the mouth. It was nice and crisp with just a hint of effervescence to me, a trait I find I enjoy this time of year.

From Argentina I had some Santa Julia wines, starting with the 2010 Santa Julia Pinot Grigio (SRP $10), which had notes of tropical fruit and banana, which I think added a hint of sweetness on the finish of the wine.

Next was the 2010 Santa Julia Innovacion Torrontes Pinot Grigio (SRP $11). This was actually a 1L bottle and is a Whole Foods Exclusive “Summer Top 10 Wine” and was certainly one I was interested to try given my growing enjoyment of Torrontes. I got notes of orange peel on the nose and floral notes in the mouth with a slight almost petrol note. For the price this is a good value and an interesting combination (90% Torrontes/10% Pinot Grigio) that I think I’d like to see more of.

Finally from Santa Julia was the 2011 Santa Julia Organica Chardonnay (SRP $11), which is made from 100% organically grown Chardonnay grapes. On the nose I got green apple and pineapple, with the pineapple carrying through to the palate. There was a nice finish to it that was at once both crisp and long tasting. This is a stainless steel wine for those that have an aversion to oaked Chardonnay (you know who you are).

The first of three Rieslings that I had was the 2009 Dr. H. Thanisch Riesling Classic (SRP $18) which had a nice minerality with peaches, grapefruit, and a nice crisp, dry finish. There was a subtle sweetness to this one, which at least to my palate was the driest of the three and one I’d be interested to pair with some spicy Thai food.

Next was the 2009 Heinz Eifel “Shine” Riesling (SRP $10) which was slightly sweeter than the previous Riesling and had flavors of green apple. I could still probably drink this one with the right meal, but again I’d want some kind of spicy Asian cuisine to go with it and cut through the sweetness.

The final Riesling was the 2010 Dr. Pauly-Bergweiler Noble House Riesling (SRP $12). With an aroma of apple and honeysuckle, petrol, and some minerality in the mouth it was also the sweetest of the Rieslings and featured a lemon/sour note that wasn’t off-putting, but neither was it great.

Up next was the 2010 Biohof Pratsch Gruner Veltliner (SRP $14). This was probably my favorite wine of the night and is a great value considering the bottle was 1L. Made from organic grapes, there was apple on the nose and a fresh, tangy dry minerality in the mouth with just a touch of white pepper. I kept going back to this one all night and was sad to see it gone.

The 2010 Fire Road Sauvignon Blanc (SRP $12) was one I had actually seen in stores a few times but never picked up. Might have to now. Aromas of gooseberry an herbal note were nice, but on the palate I was really intrigued with this wine that was nice a dry with flavors of stone fruit and what was debated as being either nettles, tomato vines, or just “green”. Either way, I really liked this one.

The final wine of the night was the 2010 Saint Clair Vicar’s Choice Sauvignon Blanc (SRP $16). Like the Fire Road, it was from New Zealand, and like the previous bottle it featured similar aromas with some grapefruit coming into the mix and some of the nettle/tomato vine/green. A touch of a mineral note on the palate was welcome as well.

All in all this was a great selection of wines. The Rieslings weren’t terrible, even though when I first received the wines I’ll admit I cringed at the sight of three German Rieslings – my memories of growing up in Germany tasting sickly sweet German Rieslings are hard to get over.

I really enjoyed the Gruner Veltliner, this being my first real experience with it, and the two New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs had intriguing aromas and flavors that make me want to see if this is something about that particular vintage in the region or just something those winemakers were doing.

There’s not a single one of these wines that I would tell somebody to avoid like the plague, but if I had to pick one to buy it would be the Gruner Veltliner with the two Sauvignon Blancs closely following.

CalNaturale Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay

George — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 14:00:24 +0000

If you were paying attention during the 2011 North American Wine Bloggers Conference (and if you weren’t I’m deeply hurt), you’d have noticed that I did do a small tasting during one of the speed tastings of the CalNaturale Chardonnay. I was intrigued by it, especially being that it’s a boxed wine, so when they reached out to me after the conference and asked if I’d like full-sized samples I jumped at the opportunity.

First, a few things about the wines before I launch into my usual reviews. These wines are about as organic as you can get, with the grapes being grown organically and the tetra-packs used to ship them in reducing costs and being far more green than a bottle holding the same amount of juice. I know that “boxed wines” have this bad reputation, but I think both myself and a lot of other bloggers are starting to see the value in them, and the winemakers are starting to make really good, quality wines and packing them in non-traditional ways, so it’s good to see another non-bottled wine on the market.

Ok, now to the reviews.

CalNaturale Cabernet Sauvignon

Varietal: 95% Cabernet Sauvignon; 5% Viognier
Region: California – USA
Cost: $13 (SRP)

Winemaker’s Notes: The initial release of CalNaturale Caberenet Sauvignon shows very rich, ripe fruit with flavors of ripe plum, cherries, cassis, and a hint of toasty oak. This classic wine is full-bodied, yet very approachable, with solid structure and ample tannins.

My Review: I’m always tentative going into a California Cabernet Sauvignon, just because I don’t know how much fruit to expect and at a certain point, enough is enough. The CalNaturale did have good ripe flavors of plum and cherry, and while I don’t know that I would call it full-bodied, it also wasn’t quite medium-bodied either. Husky-bodied maybe? My wife and I tried this wine with a few different things, including pasta (which is was a nice pairing for), just out on the deck one evening, and I even turned some into Sangria for my wife, which it actually performed admirably as.

There’s quickly becoming a preponderance of quality California Cabernet Sauvignon in boxes, and part of what I liked about the CalNaturale is that they offer 500ml and 1L instead of the usual 3L option, which is perfect for smaller groups or for travel. For the price it’s a great value, and I liked that it was a bit more versatile than I was expecting.

CalNaturale Chardonnay

Varietal: 95% Chardonnay; 5% Viognier
Region: California – USA
Cost: $13 (SRP)

Winemaker’s Notes: This refreshing Chardonnay shows clear and vibrant fruit with a hint of vanilla from lightly toasted oak. It has medium acidity with good length and shows fruit to the very end. Ideal with or without food; well balanced with aromas and taste of ripe apples, pear, and a hint of citrus.

My Review: I had gotten a brief taste of this at the conference, so I was very interested to spend more time with it as my notes seemed to indicate that I had enjoyed it (all blurs together at a certain point). I liked this one more than my wife, as there was too much oak on it for her taste, whereas I liked how there was some oak, but not so much that I couldn’t enjoy it without food.

Again, we paired this with several foods, including some fish and chicken, as well as just out on the deck one evening. I liked that the acid was there, but not overwhelming, and the nice apple and pear flavors blending into the soft oak finish with a touch of vanilla.

Of the two this was my favorite, in part because the warmer weather here in Virginia makes a good white wine a must have. It’s a great value and one I’d recommend checking out, especially if you’re looking to stay organic as much as possible.

Steeplechase Vineyards Wine Country Gift Basket

George — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 14:00:10 +0000

So a few weeks ago Wine Country Gift Baskets reached out to me about reviewing one of their gift baskets. I hesitated for a moment before responding, not because I wasn’t interested, but because I honestly had no idea how to go about reviewing something like a wine gift basket. In the end I replied that I was like to review one of their baskets, and I’m really glad I did.

Maybe it’s just me, but my initial reaction to the thought of wine gift baskets was something akin to how most people react when presented with a Rose’ – they see pink wine and instantly think of cheap white zinfandel. I’ve only been exposed to a few wine gift baskets in the past, and they were, honestly, kinda cheap. Because of this, I was impressed when the Steeplechase gift basket showed up.

I’d had a bit of an idea of what to expect ahead of time thanks to a link sent to me showing which gift basket was being sent my way, but there’s something about a semi-stock image on a website that doesn’t always do the real thing justice. The packaging was both visually appealing and practical – instead of a true basket, the entire package was cradled in a metal tub with some scroll work on it that, quite frankly, my wife and I plan to reuse.

The wine and all the foods were arranged in a way that made them easy to see, but also kept them in place. All in all it was a great packaging and it looked high quality, which I think is half the way to actually being high quality.

My wife and I committed to going through the gift basket together this past weekend, as we always enjoy a lunch of small munchie-type foods and after cleaning out admittedly dirty house, we were going to need some wine. The gift basket contained a wide assortment of spreads, crackers, and even some candies, but there were a few that really stood out and that I feel need some mention.

Of the foods, both the cheese dip and the cheese spread are noteworthy. The cheese spread because instead of your standard processed cheddar spread, it was an Asiago cheese spread which wasn’t revolutionary, but I appreciated having something in there that was different than the standard cheddar. The cheese dip, which was powdered and combined with some cream cheese, was just great. So great in fact that we didn’t finish the whole thing and it’s covered in my fridge to be enjoyed later. I didn’t want to throw it away, it was that good.

Of the more dessert type foods, I have two complaints. The walnut shortbread cookies were amazing, like I wanted to bathe in them amazing. Put more in the basket because they are spectacular. The caramel chocolates were kind of a let down. I should qualify that by pointing out that I am not much of a chocolate person, and neither is my wife, but we both tried one and only one. The other caramels, however, were quite tasty.

“But George, what about the wines? You’re a wine writer afterall.”. Good point. The wine selection is what I figured it would be – a Chardonnay, a Merlot, and a Cabernet Sauvignon. They were, however, better than I was expecting.

The Chardonnay had a little oak to it, but it did this great job of walking a middle ground between being a really full-bodied Chardonnay and being a lighter steel Chardonnay. For a gift basket with a range of foods and as something you’ll send to somebody else who’s tastes you may not know, that’s actually a great thing.

The Merlot surprised me with how good it was. Nice and dark with good fruit and a hint of tobacco made this easily the biggest surprise of the basket for me. Merlot is a grape that I’ve grown to enjoy again after some bad experiences, but I’m still hesitant around it and this one just reaffirmed my decision to keep trying it.

The Cabernet Sauvignon was, well, a California Cab. Fruit forward with a medium body, it wasn’t anything ground-breaking ,but it also was better than your average run-of-the-mill entry level Cabernet.

So, the question really comes down to is this basket worth it. This particular basket retails for $75 (not counting shipping), and honestly, it’s totally worth it. My wife and I both were very impressed with the gift basket, and in fact lamented that we hadn’t shared it with others, though then I probably wouldn’t have gotten as many of those amazing shortbread cookies. I would not in any way be embarrassed to send this to somebody I know, and while I certainly can’t speak to all of the baskets, Wine Country Gift Baskets has definitely jumped up to the top of my list of places I’d go to send one.

Hedges Family Estate CMS Sauvignon Blanc 2009

George — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 14:00:12 +0000

Varietal: 77% Sauvignon Blanc; 20% Chardonnay; 3% Marsanne
Region: Columbia Valley – Washington – USA
Cost: $14

Winemaker’s Notes: Bright, lively aromas of ripe pear, grapefruit peel, caramel apple, and orange blossom. The palate is lean, angular, and well defined, emphasizing the virtues of structure and elegance.

My Review: I don’t think I’ve made any secret to my enjoyment of Sauvignon Blanc over the past few years, which is why when I received a box of samples from Hedges Family Estate, I was happy to see a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc, especially since I couldn’t remember having one from the state of Washington. I’m always looking to try new things.

In the glass the wine was somewhere between golden and straw – not really a dark yellow, but not really a light yellow either. On the nose I got light citrus and the orange blossom that was advertised, or at least I associate the aroma I got, a sort of floral citrus note, with orange blossom.

In the mouth the flavors were subtle and, for lack of a better term, lean. Maybe I’ve become too accustomed to South American Sauvignon Blanc, especially those from Chile, but while there was some citrus, I didn’t get that punch of lemon, lime, and grapefruit that I’m used to. Instead I got more of the orange blossom and a bit of the Chardonnay came through both my wife and I in what seemed like an oaked flavor, even though the bottle says it hasn’t been oaked (and I believe them).

Paired with a dinner of seasoned tilapia and some scalloped cheddar potatoes the wine did a good enough job of cutting through the heat of the seasoning we put on the fish. Now, as to the million dollar question of whether or not I would recommend it.

I personally like the big citrus punch I get from South American Sauvignon Blanc. I don’t know if the lack of that hit in this wine was indicative of how the grape grows in Washington, was a result of the blending, or was something else. I didn’t categorically dislike the wine, but it wasn’t my favorite. Now, that being said, if you don’t like the citrus hit of Sauvignon Blanc but are still in the market for a light wine that’s good for the last bit of heat we’ll see this summer, this wine may in fact be what you’re looking for, and at $14 it’s certainly not going to break the bank to give it a try.