Archive for the ‘French Oak Whites’ Category
I hope everybody had a fun and safe Memorial Day weekend filled with friends, family, cookouts, and good wine. On Saturday my wife and I decided to jump on the Virginia Wine Trail and hit a few vineyards – some we had been to before and others we hadn’t visited yet. Four vineyards, several bottles, and a wine club membership later and we lived to tell the tale, and now I get to share it with you.
- A shot from outside White Hall Vineyards
We started out our tasting at White Hall, partly because of the area we were looking to go tasting in, they were the first one open, but also because I we hadn’t actually been out to the tasting room in many years. On the Saturday morning we stopped in they were pouring 9 different wines and my wife and I were happy to sample them all.
We started out with two Chardonnays, the 2008 Chardonnay ($15) and the 2008 Chardonnay Reserve ($24). The stainless steel Chardonnay featured all the usual citrus and pear notes I would have expected, but had a smoother finish than I anticipated, though certainly not “oaky”. The 2008 Reserve featured a bit of oaky nuttiness on the nose and while it had the “oaked” finish I would expect, it was subtle and even my wife, who doesn’t usually care for oaked Chardonnay, preferred it to the stainless steel.
Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Region: Livermore Valley – California – USA
Cost: $15 (SRP)
Winemaker’s Notes: A wonderfully expressive wine that is rich and creamy, yet fresh. Ripe tree fruit flavors of peach, pear, and guava show on the nose and palate. Hints of lemon, subtle herbs, and brioche balance out the fruitiness, and there is a creamy and nuanced finish. Pairs well with herbed pork loin or pasta with your favorite cream sauce.
My Review: I always take a deep breathe before opening a bottle of Chardonnay that’s spent any time in oak (this one spent time in both French and American oak), as my wife is hit or miss on Chardonnay that’s spent time in barrels, preferring stainless steel. However, life is about new experiences, and as I enjoy oaked Chardonnay, sometimes she just has to suck it up (sorry sweetie). Fortunately, with the 2009 Concannon Conservancy Chardonnay we both won.
Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Region: California – Napa Valley – USA
Cost: $18 (SRP)
Winemaker’s Notes: Pale yellow in color with aromas of Fuji apple, ripe pear, citrus and white nectarine fruit layered with rich notes of cream, toasted hazelnut, and vanilla. In the mouth the wine is silky and round with flavors of pear, apple, citrus, and honey with notes of rich creme brulee, mineral, and cream lingering at the finish. Pairs well with chicken dishes, soft cheeses, and cream based pastas.
My Review: I can always tell when the warmer months are upon us because the samples I receive change from big bold reds to lighter wines such as Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. It’s my little way of knowing that winter will soon be over and that I can finally put away my heavy wool coat. The first of such samples to show up at my office this time was a 2009 Franciscan Estate Chardonnay.
As you know, picking out Chardonnay is a bit of a trial in my house as my wife doesn’t like overly oaked Chardonnay. Fortunately I think that a) her tastes are evolving and she’s getting more into oaked Chardonnay, and b) we’re finding plenty of Chardonnay that’s spent time in oak, but doesn’t beat you over the head with the oak flavors. The 2009 Franciscan definitely falls into that category. Read the rest of this entry »
Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
Region: California – USA
Cost: $20 (SRP)
Golden in color with aromas of pears, Gala apples, stone fruits, and pineapple. Hints of nutmeg, cinnamon, panna cotta, and hazelnuts that all carry through to the palate. Pairs well with chicken, seafood, and pork dishes as well as some softer cheeses.
Recommendations: I’ll admit that with the colder weather I’ve been on somewhat of a red wine kick, not the least of which has to do with my food selections. However, when the bottle of 2008 Robert Mondavi Chardonnay showed up at my office the other day, I will admit that I was happy for it as A) I don’t have a lot of white in the house at the moment, and B) I was kinda in the mood for a nice Chardonnay.
If you’ve followed this blog for any amount of time you know that I have a bit of trouble picking out Chardonnays because my wife doesn’t like oaked Chardonnay. While the Robert Mondavi has spent some time in French oak to age, it was fermented in stainless steel, and so I was hoping that the distinctive finish wouldn’t be too bad for her. It wasn’t. Read the rest of this entry »
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Region: California – Sonoma County – USA
Cost: $21
Lighter red in color with aromas of cherry and flavors of rose petal, pomegranate, and cherry. Time in French Oak barrels adds a hint of toasted spice on the finish. Pairs well with lamb, pork, chicken, steak, mild cheese…pretty much anything.
Recommendations: Ah Pinot Noir…my one true love (of wine – I love my wife very much). I’m always in the market for a good Pinot, and back in July, during a tasting at my local wine shop, I had the opportunity to try, and then buy, this Rodney Strong pinot noir. To be honest, I had almost forgotten it was on my wine rack until the other day when grilling some pork chops and I kicked myself for forgetting about it.
Nice and light in the glass, aromas and flavors of cherry were the most noticeable to me, with just a hint spice on the end. When paired with the grilled pork chops, the wine held up well, adding Read the rest of this entry »
Varietal: Chardonnay
Region: California – Livermore Valley – USA
Cost: $15
Light golden in the glass with pear and guava on the nose and flavors of fresh peach, guava, and pear with hints of lemon, herbs, and brioche with a creamy finish. Pairs well with pork loin or pasta with cream sauce.
Recommendations: I’m always wary of opening a bottle of Chardonnay to share with my wife as she doesn’t like oaked Chardonnay (she doesn’t like the buttery finish). However, when fixing a dinner of pork tenderloin, the bottle of Concannon Chardonnay called out to me. I got a bit of pear on the nose, and flavors of peach. The finish was nice and mellow, with just a hint of the typical buttery finish that you associate with Chardonnay that has spent time in oak barrels. Read the rest of this entry »
