Hello wine lovers and happy wine Wednesday!  I cannot get over how stunning Vancouver is in the sunshine…this summer is turning out to be a real beauty.

Thank you for your feedback on “The Chardonnay Chronicles” – I am thrilled to learn that a few of you have taken up the challenge to reintroduce your palate to one of the most versatile and sought after grape varieties in the world!  How could I have ever doubted this grape?  I shake my head and stop giving myself a bad time because now I am a true believer.  And – this weeks’ bottle on the judging block is, happily, another fine example!  Yes – you heard a ‘Hell Yes’ already, didn’t you???

From San Fransisco Bay, Wente Vineyard‘s Morning Fog 2011 Chardonnay has, simply put, won my heart.  This lovely wine delivers what I want to taste in my glass of cold Chardonnay at a reasonable price point of $18.99 at the B.C. Liquor Stores.  Wente Vineyard’s named this Chardonnay after the morning fog that flow in from San Fransisco Bay over to Livermore Valley – just east of San Fransisco where the winery is located.  Wente Vineyard is America’s oldest, continually operated family winery and is a sustainable vineyard…Nice!

In the glass, Wente’s Morning Fog Chardonnay is a medium lemon colour with aromas of ripe red and green apples, lemon peel, a touch of vanilla and some nice stone fruit.  On the palate, this is a dry wine with refreshing medium levels of acidity, medium plus body, medium plus levels of alcohol at 13.5% abv and medium plus in the flavour intensity.  On the palate, again notes of ripe apple – but this time more red apple, citrus, honeydew melon and a perfect balance of butter and vanilla that was not at all over powering.  This is a well-rounded wine that is interesting to smell and drink with a fantastic medium plus finish.

Wente’s Morning Fog 2011 Chardonnay will be given a spot in my wine cellar indeed… For you wine adventurers out there – I do urge you to pick up a bottle of this lovely Chardonnay, take it home, put it in the fridge for about 3 – 4 hours, pull the cork and enjoy!

• A GGG ‘Hell Yes’ for flavour, value and balance.
• Serve around 10° C – 13° C for premium flavours.
• Pair with chicken breast on the BBQ, corn on the cob with butter and a simple salad.
• Did I mention it is $18.99???  This is a great value for a fantastic wine!

That is it for me this week…I will try to post again next Wednesday before I head off to Champagne and Paris.  I have some very cool tours set up at famous and not so famous Champagne houses.  And, my lovely readers, I ask you what is the grape variety used to make blanc de blancs Champagne?  Yes – Chardonnay!  You can tell I am a bit in love with this grape, non?

Enjoy!

XO
C