Varietal of the Month: Chardonnay

chardonnay

Chardonnay is one of the most famous white grape varieties in the world, commonly referred as the Master White of Burgundy.

You will not be surprised to learn that this varietal has a Burgundian origin. This type of vine gives very fine wines expressed on white flowers flavors (acacias), hazelnuts, almonds, brioches and citrus fruits when the wine is young. It come from a mingling between Pinot Noir and Gouais Blanc.

Chardonnay can be found in the Chablis and Burgundy regions, where it’s the second-most widely planted white grape variety.

Chardonnay is also cultivated in Champagne vineyards especially on the Côte des Blancs which produces one of the finest Champagnes ever, The Blanc de Blancs champagne!
From Spain to Chile or Argentina, Australia or Italy and California, Chardonnay is produced all over the worlds winemaking areas.

chardonnay

Chardonnay facts:

⦁ It’s a delightful wine served at 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Poured at this temperature, the Chardonnay wines are sophisticated and wide, you can it find fine and fruity flavors. In Burgundy this wine is aged in oak casks, and the flavors can vary according to the land they come from: honey, butter in Côte d’Or, white fruit (peach, pear, lychee) in Chablis.

⦁ It’s a delightful wine served at 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Poured at this temperature, the Chardonnay wines are sophisticated and wide, you can it find fine and fruity flavors. In Burgundy this wine is aged in oak casks, and the flavors can vary according to the land they come from: honey, butter in Côte d’Or, white fruit (peach, pear, lychee) in Chablis.

⦁ Chardonnay is a very precocious grape variety which is sensitive to the spring freeze, or cold land.

⦁ Chardonnay prefers limestone land and moderately fertile soil like Mediterranean area in France. But it’s suitable for the grape growth to find areas with a good water holding capacity.

⦁ This variety has different favorite climates which permit an unequaled range of expressions according to the area features it grow up.

⦁ France is the world’s biggest Chardonnay producers but as we saw before it can adapt to different regions, that is why we find it all around the world with an important production in USA, California and Oregon especially, also in Argentina and Chile.

Chardonnay pairings:

Thanks to its incredible variety of flavors, Chardonnay is very easy to pair with any dish. For example, all the types of seafood are always compatible with the wines resulting from Chardonnay. It can perfectly be granted with a myriad of raw seafood dishes. Whether the seafood is quite simply cooked, braised or buttered, sushi, and sashimi can all be well married just as much fish varieties and ways to cook them. The wealth of Chardonnay makes wonders with lobsters, crab and other fatty fishes. You will also enjoy a glass of Chardonnay with a large variety of white meats like chicken, turkey or pork. Its natural acidity, makes of it your best friend with a large range of hard and soft, or even creamy cheeses.

Must- try Chardonnay:

2014 Artesa Chardonnay – Carneros, Napa Valley, California ($19)

Winemaker Notes: A brilliant straw yellow, this Chardonnay opens with heady aromas of lime, apple, apricot and pineapple, spiked with appealing hints of honeysuckle, oregano and tarragon. Its lively entry from the wine's natural acidity is also accompanied by layers of citrus and tropical fruit flavors. An underlying mineral component, along with the subtle influence of French oak, adds intrigue. This is a classic Carneros Chardonnay, finishing crisply and beckoning for another taste.

chardonnay

2014 L’élegante Chardonnay – Domaine La Croix Montjoie, Bourgogne Vezelay, France ($25)

Winemaker Notes: On the nose be expressed Acacia flower notes, lemon, pear and peach with shades of hawthorn flowers. You will feel after the long finish in your mouth with limestone minerality and salty in addition of fresh notes of licorice and menthol.

chardonnay

2014 1er Cru Montmains – Domaine du Chardonnay Chablis, France ($27)

Winemaker Notes: Seductive nose showing a pronounced mineral character augmented by menthol and lemony notes. Beautiful palate that is full yet lively. Closely-integrated, focused and remarkably persistent across the palate. A sterling wine.

chardonnay

2012 La Follette Chardonnay – Mendocino Ridge, California ($42)

Winemaker Notes: Aromas of white lily, honeycomb and Gravenstein apple leap from the glass. The entry is marked by focused citrus acidity that folds into lemon curd and a softer note of sweet cream. Buoyant fruitiness plays against Chanterelle mushroom; the wine is both fresh and rich at once with a hint of spiciness on the late palate. Beeswax and baked apple emerge on the soft, lingering finish. A truly sumptuous Chardonnay.

chardonnay

2012 Louis Latour Chardonnay – Chassagne-Montrachet Blanc, Côte d’Or, France ($90)

Winemaker Notes: A round and rich wine, the white Chassagne-Montrachet 2012 reveals aromas of apricot kernel and vanilla on the nose. It is ample and powerful in the mouth with discrete oaky notes. A beautiful long finish.

chardonnay

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