This one burned a hole in our pocket.  This top-notch Chardonnay arrived just a week ago as part of an April shipment from our friends at the Buena Vista Wine Club and is already a part of Notes.  But with Spring well underway here in our home, whites are in greater demand and I can see a shift on the horizon as reds will have to accept whites on more equal footing.

2012 Private Reserve Chardonnay, Buena Vista, Sonoma County, California, USA.

The 2012 Private Reserve Chardonnay had a chance to refrigerate all weekend and was nice and chilled by the time we uncorked after work today.  In comparison to a Pinot Grigio, this white had a much richer, flavor-filled density to it.  Some Grigio is almost like water to this taster, the Coors Light of white wines; the Buena Vista Chardonnay (this one in particular) was the succulent alternative.  There are plentiful floral notes in the 2012 Private Reserve, and definitely some citrus too…without some of the “oak barrel” that we occasionally find less ingratiating. (By way of clarification: I want to taste the complexities that result from this aging process without having the barrel dropped on my tongue…I think my wife shares the same sentiments.)

This is how the Buena Vista team articulated their concept: “The 2012 Private Reserve Chardonnay is sourced from vineyards throughout Sonoma County and displays fresh citrus notes that are accented by hits of baked apple and vanilla.”

I don’t usually warm up too much to vanilla, but it’s not really the dominant scent or taste in the 2012 Private Reserve Chardonnay.  Having enjoyed time in Sonoma, I like to picture the winemaker, in compiling the right grapes for this varietal, sampling many of the same vineyards that we too hit in wine country.  I know that is an unrealistic expectation but nice remembrance nevertheless.  Oh yeah–last but not least.  We had this white with a flavorful ham, reheated from our fabulous Easter brunch, broccoli, and a homemade macaroni and cheese (with real melted cheese!).  The food was good, but the Chardonnay was the star of the show.