I'm not big on whites, but every once in awhile, the crispness of a good Chardonnay is really great. I received 2 fantastic bottles of Chardonnay recently, so I had to share the knowledge. First, because I'm a member of Groth's wine club, I received their 2007 Chardonnay as my quarterly shipment.
At first, I was disappointed because I was hoping for more reds, but I thought what the heck, why not bring it over to the Onoda's holiday dinner, especially since I know my little Fauxnoda, Angie, has a penchant for the whites. We chilled it for a bit before opening, and I have to say, I think this is my all time favorite Chardonnay that I've ever had. It is unusually full bodied for a white wine, slightly citrusy, hints of pear and my favorite ending: vanilla-y oak. So good! Their past Chards have done well (ranging scores: low 90's), so wouldn't be surprised to see this one ranked just as well. Groth Vineyards
2007 Chardonnay
Oakville, California
Price Range: ~$20.00
Another bottle that I had been holding out for, is part of a set that one of my favorite people, Christin got for me as a Christmas gift. She is way too generous, and got me the "explorer" wine package from Williams Sonoma. One of the bottles I've been eyeing for awhile was the 2006 Hope Estate Chardonnay. My roommate and I decided to open it up over our salmon and spinach salad dinner last week, and we were definitely not disappointed.This Australian-based Chardonnay is definitely much lighter than Groth's full bodied Chardonnay, but it certainly does not disappoint. It is slightly flowery and almost carbonated, because of the citrusy zest it gives off. It has a nice crispness to it, lending itself to taste more like a Pinot Grigio, but it is definitely a Chardonnay on the finish. I would buy another few bottles of this to serve with a strawberry-spinach salad, or a quiche lorraine. Delish!
Hope Estates
2007 Chardonnay
Hunter Valley, Australia
~$12.00-$15.00
Additionally, as a part of the "explorer" package that wonderful Christin gave me, there was a red that I had also been saving, the 2004 Mt. St. Helena's Cabernet. Angie and I decided to have a Pizza/Entourage night, and I thought it would be a nice bottle to share over Pizza.
I'm really glad I shared this with Angie, because she tends to like the lighter, less full bodied reds, and this was perfect for her. This cab was very bright and berry forward, without being too heavy on the tannins. It was very smooth, and went down easily. Definitely went will with the pizza, but on a more formal tip, I would serve it with Fraiche's short rib ravioli or braised ribs. A softer meat, with lots of texture.
Mout St. Helena Brand
2004 Cabernet
Napa Valley
~$23.00-$30.00
