The arrival of March is
something to celebrate. It was the
perfect reason to gather friends for a Chardonnay tasting!
Chardonnay is the wine for end-of-winter
drinking. It allows us to throw off the shackles
of red-wines-only, while steering clear of wines that are crisp, light, patio
quaffers. Not quite ready for those just
yet.
Specifically I aimed to
provide Chardonnays with a good dose of oak for a richer texture and profile.
Our intrepid tasters
included a Wine & Spirits Department Manager, a Cheese Specialist, a beer
brewer, a chef/smoker, and of course, myself.
I did not reveal prices
but I also did not cover labels, so I imagine we all had some pre-level of
expectation with many of the ten Chardonnays I provided.
At the end of the night,
we confirmed there is a reason that Rombauer Chardonnay is so highly
regarded. It was our unanimous choice as
the best Chardonnay of the group.
This 2011 vintage from the
Carneros Appellation is 100% Chardonnay and is aged 10 months in both French
and American oak.
We all found luscious
aromas of honey, pear and sweet tangerine along with vanilla and
hazelnuts. The flavors are intense with
sweet peach, melon and tropical fruits with creamy vanilla and exotic
spices. One taster absolutely noticed
smoked paprika on the finish!
What sets this Chardonnay
apart from others, I believe, is its intensity of flavors and aromas balanced
precisely with elegance in a lush, caressing palate. It is rich and round, yet understated and
feminine.
The Rombauer Chardonnay
was the best wine of the bunch and it is my number one pick for the month of
March.
