Varietal:  98% Chardonnay; 1% Muscat Canelli; 1% Malvasia Bianca
Region:  California, USA
Cost:  $11 (SRP)

Winemaker’s Notes:  The nose reveals lemon blossom, pineapple, and peach aromas with smoky oak nuances along with enticing vanilla spice and toasty brown sugar flavors. The creamy, mouthfilling palate creates a lush impression and is balanced by a rich, lingering finish. Enjoy this delicious wine with rich seafood, poultry, pork dishes, white-sauce pastas – like fettuccini Alfredo, or flavorful, softripening cheeses.

My Review:  I’m always wary when a Chardonnay sample shows up at my house as my wife has a distaste for oaked chardonnay, whereas I enjoy them – it makes buying Chardonnay tricky in the house. While she’s willing to try pretty much anything I pour into a glass for her, I prefer to give her things I know she’ll enjoy, so with her out of town, I took the opportunity to open the bottle of 2010 Robert Mondavi Private Selection Chardonnay since I knew it had spent time in oak and didn’t want to trouble my wife with it.

The wine was a nice deep golden color in the glass, and I got primarily pineapple aromas from the wine, which I expected given the varietal. In the mouth I got some tropical flavors, but it was the soft creaminess of the wine that I found enjoyable.

There was no denying that this wine had spent time in oak, but it wasn’t this overwhelming sensation of oak, and I for one found it very appealing and approachable. I paired the wine with a dinner of grilled pork chops that I brushed with a lemon-mustard concoction and the acid in the wine did a nice job of pairing with what I think were the most perfectly cooked pork chops in the history of pork chops.

This is a great value wine, and definitely one to check out if you’re looking for a Chardonnay that’s spent time in oak but won’t beat you over the head with it. It will go with a wide range of meals and could easily turn up as a table wine in just about any home.

Related posts:

1. Robert Mondavi Private Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2010
2. Robert Mondavi Private Selection Pinot Grigio 2010
3. Robert Mondavi Chardonnay 2008

Light and crisp, with flavors of tropical fruit and citrus.  Light on the nose with a more golden color than is typical for Sauvignon Blanc.  Pairs well with chicken, pork, or seafood.

Recommendation: I bought this mostly out of a desire to try something new, and because I wanted something to pair with the pork chops I knew I was having for dinner that night.  While the Spier Sauvignon Blanc isn’t my favorite, it has certainly opened me up to the world of South African Sauvignon Blancs in a very positive light.

Not nearly as citrusy as the Sauvignon Blancs from South America or even New Zealand, this white wine paired well with my grilled pork chops.  I’m not sure if this would work as well for a lighter meal of appetizers or with something overly spicy, but as an alternative to Pinot Grigio or for those that don’t enjoy the citrus of many Sauvignon Blancs, this is a good pick.  For the price it’s hard to pass up, especially if you’re interested in trying wine from South Africa.

Related posts:

1. Anakena Sauvignon Blanc
2. Charles Shaw Sauvignon Blanc
3. Spotlight on a Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc