Tag Archives: Chardonnay

Bring on Happiness

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Le Bonheur 2020 Chardonnay from the Western Cape wine region is dry, medium-plus-bodied and bright, with mineral notes. Nicely balanced and excellent value. This winery dates back to the 1700s when the original owners, the French Huguenot De Villiers family, named the winery “Le Bonheur,” which translates to “happiness.”

Buttery and Complex

Pick a food. Pick a mood.  Pick an occasion – and you can pick this one to go with it.

CHARDONNAY – LE BONHEUR

$15.99 regularly $17.99

13.5%

UPC: 06001497413209

Wonderful Terroir

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Right off the top, this is one of the nicest blends we’ve ever had.

Two of the main white grape varieties are sourced to produce Nespolino. The wine celebrates Nespoli  and not only its local flavors, but also its combination with an international variety which has good results in the Romagna area.  Citric Trebbiano blended with the tropical fruit aromas of Chardonnay get you right after the intense perfume.  All followed up with a well balanced, lingering finish.

Serve it nicely chilled (8-10 C)

Trebbiano Chardonnay Nespolino 2020

$12.99

12% Alcohol

Martha wants to party

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Martha is at it again …and says she’ll come with some of HER wine

California, not Australian grapes. It has a nice complexity.  Floral edge on initial taste. The acidity gives this Chardonnay excellent length, the flavors roll on and on.

The flavor held its own, but the minerality stole the show at the end.

I’d invite her back. .. the wine .. that is.

CHARDONNAY – 19 CRIMES MARTHA

$19.99

13.8% alcohol

UPC: 00012354007437

Opening was a pain – but worth the effort

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The 2017 Chardonnay Max’s is packaged in an interesting grey wrap which might look good on a shelf but does make opening the bottle a pain (the Cabernet Sauvignon Max’s is even worse).

The wine, however, is rock solid.


Penfold’s Max’s Chardonnay is a tribute to former Chief Winemaker Max Schubert 1948-1975, a legend in Penfolds history. Max’s constant pursuit of excellence paved the way for those who followed in his footsteps and also allowed the status and heritage of Penfolds to grow. Max’s Chardonnay displays the Penfolds ‘stamp’ inspired by Max Schubert.


Pale straw colour with light green hints.  Appealing nose from the French Oak.  Nice acidity to round out the palate.  Slight citrusy edge.  Balanced. Complete.


CHARDONNAY – PENFOLDS MAX’S

$19.99  regularly $25.49

12.5 % alcohol

UPC: 09310297010523

Think Apples

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It’s slightly sweeter than we’re used to with a Chardonnay, but that’s just us.


This Chardonnay boasts ripe pear and apple notes. Citrusy on the palate and  moderately acidic.


Very Expressive and sends good vibes.

It’s by the Elicit Wine Project, part of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates of Washington State and definitely one to remember for the deck in the summertime.

In some locations, you’ll be able to buy it in Cans, to put on ice.

CHARDONNAY – FRUIT AND FLOWER

$15.47  regularly $18.99

13.7% Alcohol

UPC: 00088586010828

Feed me too

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The vineyard features fully sustainability.  I’d like to stop by, stay a night or two, and sample the food as well as their wines.  Restaurant. Deli.  And you can even do a farm picnic.


Their vision is to balance tradition and experience with contemporary innovation to produce classic wines with measured modern new world attitude that are uniquely Boschendal.


So we are sampling their Chardonnay.  The one with  hints of oak spice. Unirrigated, well drained, rocky shale terroir. Whole bunch pressed. Natural fermentation. Then 11 months in oak.


It is big on aroma and flavours, great nose with citrus on the palate. Well balanced, good complexity and roundness.


Early sampling sorta screamed pasta – so we did … with lots of garlic, red and yellow pepper strips, red onion, egg noodle pasta.

CHARDONNAY – BOSCHENDAL WESTERN CAPE 2019

$19.99

13.5% alcohol

UPC: 06001660003824

Mislabeled

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Definitely NOT evil flowers as the label indicates.

These belong on the list of The Wines of Summer.


Plunk me down in this chunk of South Western France. and let me wander.  I think we would do just fine weaving our way from vineyard to vineyard enjoying the wines of summer.


A little of this, a bit more of that, and lots of this – mix and match that go with tapas, cheeses, or even roasted poultry. Colombard, Ugni Blanc (known as Trebbiano in Italy), and Gros Manseng, along with international varieties like Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.

Because they are high in acidity and have relatively neutral flavors, Colombard and Ugni Blanc are often distilled to make brandy in South West France.


I suggest that you serve the white a little colder than other whites.

COTES DE GASCOGNE – LES FLEURS DU MAL

$16.99

11.5% alcohol

UPC: 08717545260081


And then we experimented with berry fragrances and a clean, well-balanced finish.


20 to 40 year old vines in the Languedoc / Roussillon region.  


The wine worked really well with grilled pork tenderloin rings (salsa of apple, purple onion, and mushrooms)Great refresher in the heat.


CEVENNES ROSE – LES FLEURS DU MAL

$15.99

13% alcohol

UPC: 03495864011212

A perfect representation

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Just like the friends that brought it – gentle, bright, and well balanced.

From one of the most innovative producers in Burgundy, this chardonnay is easy to drink and disappears quickly. The valley near the Ardeche River with clay and limestone-based soils was chosen as the ideal location to produce a top-quality Chardonnay wine.

ARDECHE CHARDONNAY – LOUIS LATOUR

$18.99

13% alcohol

UPC: 0356692100010

For now and later

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The vineyard is near Verona and we have a beautiful blend of Garganega, Trebbiano Toscano, Tocai (Friulano), Cortese (Fernanda), Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon. 30 year old vines give us character.

A lovely yellow with green highlights.  Dry and Tangy.  Nicely full bodied and a long persistent after taste.

Enjoy it now, and stow it away for up to 4 or 5 years to enjoy later.

CUSTOZA SUPERIORE BIANCO – MONTE DEL FRA CA DEL MAGRO 2016

$21.99

13% Alcohol

UPC: 00838547000050

Flashback Dinner

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We were very pleased to see a Mondavi in Mystery Case #9.  We remember a dinner at the Empress Hotel decades ago with representatives from Mondavi for a tasting and dinner. A MOST enjoyable time.


In tribute, we created tenderloin kebabs (pork/Japanese Eggplant/small tomatoes/red yellow peppers/mushrooms) for our flashback dinner.


This wine is more acidic than I’d have expected from a Californian Chard (and this is a good thing), the Oak is still a little overpowering in my view, but certainly not completely out of balance. It’s full bodied with a nice rich texture. 


Not sure I’d call it ’new’ style, but it brings forward the not-as-oaky, unobtrusive flavours of the newer Chardonnays from California.

Mondavi Napa Valley Chardonnay 2017

$24.97

14.5 % Alcohol