Category Archives: Chardonnay

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2013 Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Lot #51 Chardonnay

Change of pace from all the reds and my love of them is the 2013 Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Lot #51 Chardonnay, a California-bottled citrusy white that we picked up…well…obviously. Selected and opened by family earlier in the week, I only revisited it myself as our meals lined up as fish and chicken over the last couple days.

2013 Trader Joe's Grand Reserve Lot #51 Chardonnay Napa California USA

2013 Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Lot #51 Chardonnay, Napa, California, USA.

There’s definitely some floral stuff happening here; some pear and peach perhaps too, all working together in oak to produce a light, buttery taste. I know my folks are fans of both oak and the buttery effect, and that they left some of this bottle for us means they either had their fill of spirits (all good!) this weekend or simply ran out of time. I’m betting the latter.

The Lot 51 Chardonnay first accompanied tuna steaks (slightly more well done than intended, but expertly seasoned) with white rice and steamed broccoli. I liked the role of this Carneros chardonnay within this meal as I thought it mixed well between bites of our fish and its spices. I enjoyed it so much that I reached eagerly for it tonight as well, both to ease my nerves after a pressure-filled work day and to complement one of my favorite meals–chicken piccata with penne pasta. This meal was my go-to for some time at Rosario’s, our favorite NJ neighborhood Italian jaunt. Regrettably, the webcast I was moderating took a bit longer than anticipated and let the white wine and caper sauce lock up just a bit, but it still made for a nice little feast by the time our speaker finished up her presentation.

The 2013 Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Lot #51 Chardonnay is bottled by BC Sellers of Napa, California, and would be an acceptable if not spectacular white gracing your table one of these future evenings.

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2012 Lafage Cote Est Catalan

Originating from the Roussillon region of southwestern France (seemingly where the Pyrenees Mountains meet the Mediterranean) is the 2012 Cote Est Catalan from winemaker Jean-Marc Lafage. It packs quite a punch for a white, not in the alcoholic sense, but in the flavor. The 2012 Cote Est Catalan is a blend of 60% Granache, 30% Chardonnay, and 10% Marsanne, and we had it with grilled roasted garlic and butter tilapia fillets, brown rice (chives as an accent from our own garden), and steamed veggies on this evening.

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It’s crisp, it’s fruity (notes of citrus and flower to be sure), and not too much in the way of sweetness. Affordable, too. A sliver of some earthy mineral? Perhaps it satisfies some calm midpoint between a Pinot Grigio and a Chardonnay? I read one review that shared these accolades: “the lovely aromatics are followed by a crisp, elegant, slightly more textured, medium-bodied white with wonderful purity, freshness, and length. It is long and flavorful on the finish.”
I agree, and seeing how many nuances he could pick out reminds me–you too, readers–of how neophyte your reviewer is here in Notes. I will stay humble but diligent in the desire to learn and share more.

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2012 Private Reserve Chardonnay, Buena Vista

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.

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.

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The Ones That Got Away

We enjoyed a number of fine adult beverages through the 2013 holidays and into March of 2014.  In light of an aggressive travel schedule, however, I’ve neglected to review several great reds and whites that graced our table in this time frame.  Tasting notes will have to wait another sampling but thought you’d enjoy a quick depiction of our “travels” through wine country domestically and abroad.

2011 Casillero del Diablo Red Blend, Chile.
2011 Bogle Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, California, USA.
2011 Tiamo Chianti, Italy.
2012 Ecco Domani Pinot Grigio, Italy.
2011 Buena Vista Natalia’s Selection Chardonnay, Sonoma County, California, USA.
2011 Cairanne La Cigalette, Cote due Rhone Villages, France.
2011 Clos du Bois, Pinot Grigio, California, USA.
2007 Bagrationi Champagne, France.
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2009 Elenora’s Selection Chardonnay, Buena Vista

Any week that has Buena Vista in it is better than one without.  I’m much less a fan of white wines than I am reds, but when you’re going with a Chardonnay produced by one of the country’s most storied vineyards you’re in good hands throughout your tasting experience.  Our bottle was #1259, and she was drawn from one of 348 cases produced.  Here’s the playbook from the folks at Buena Vista:

2009 Elenora's Selection Chardonnay, Buena Vista, Sonoma County, California, USA.

2009 Elenora’s Selection Chardonnay, Buena Vista, Sonoma County, California, USA.

“The 2009 Elenora’s Selection Chardonnay displays a spicy bouquet of citrus and ripe pear while bright fruit flavors and great acidity give the wine depth and balance.  A creamy texture and rich flavors of Golden Delicious apples and peaches are brilliantly showcased in this distinctive wine.”

Elenora was with us for meals both divine (i.e., salmon with a dijon mustard and oregano sauce) and homespun (i.e., PB&J with chicken noodle soup), and acquitted herself with grace and dignity in each.  The 2009 Elenora’s Selection Chardonnay from Buena Vista is rich in color, more like apple juice than the glassy spring color of a Pinot Gris, and definitely packs in the pear/citrus combination in equal measures.  It’s easy to drink and easier to appreciate.

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Wente Vineyards Morning Fog 2011 Chardonnay

If you remember our last post about Wente, you know we’re fans and were looking to echo the success of our last bottle with another of the finest from this Livermore Valley vineyard.  We anticipated sharing this one with good friends–originally from Park Slope in Brooklyn and now in Yonkers–for the Easter weekend.  My wife’s dear friend is a professional chef, and this light, nearly sweet Chardonnay was intended to accompany a mushroom lasagna and other festive plans we had in mind.

Wente Vineyards 2011 Morning Fog Chardonnay, Livermore, California, USA.

Wente Vineyards 2011 Morning Fog Chardonnay, Livermore, California, USA.

Unfortunately, our plans fell through and Becca and I were left with nearly two dozen eggs to color ourselves, a pile of delicious snacks, and a Paas kit ready to go.  Thankfully, we’re creative folks, and we do love our eats.  Makes for a powerful combination!

Anyway, we set up the kitchen table–cups for dunking, pens, crayons, and rubber bands, and this delicious white.  Perfect way to celebrate Easter!  You can see in the accompanying photo both our empty bottle as well as the colored treasures we created ourselves.  The wine was great, the occasion sound, and the company best of all.

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Buena Vista 2009 Ramal Vineyard Cardonnay Musque Clone

A delicous-smelling mushroom beef risotto is going to accompany this last glass of the Buena Vista Musque Clone Chardonnay 2009 tonight. The Chardonnay–my first white in some time–is a really nice, sweet Californian. Buena Vista always rings true for me, and this bottle is no exception. It’s got a great scent about it; some yellow fruits that I can’t quite pinpoint but surely enjoy on the nose and the tongue.
In addition to their usual language about the boutique approach, Buena Vista writes of this Sonoma beauty, “This Musque Clone selection showcases our most aromatic expression of Carneros Chardonnay with aromas of honeysuckle, orange blossum, and floral notes. The aromatic fruit and muscat-like characters carry through with a rich, oily texture that pairs well with intensely flavored foods and is also enjoyable on its own.”
Even now I’m just sipping the glass, drawing out the inevitable conclusion to a fun bottle. Wish they didn’t all come to an end, but all good things, right?

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Jean Bourdy Cremant du Jura

Our tour of the world’s wines, making our way around the island of Manhattan, next included the Jean Bourdy Cremant de Jura – a 100% chardonnay from Jura, France.  This white was matched up with the Delice D’Bourgogne, a cheese from Burgandy, France.  Produced by Fromagerie Lincet, the pasteurized triple creme (75% butterfat in dry matter) marries full-fat cow milk with fresh cream, producing a rich, whipped cheese with a thin, pungent mold rind that imparted some great smells (“straw and mushroom aromas, complementing the buttery, yellow, sweet cream interior” according to our learned guide) to all of us enjoying the pairing.  At first I wasn’t sure what smell I detected in the JBC but, when prompted by our hostess, I definitely got a feel for the nutty, fruit-tinged aroma she described.

The Jean Bourdy Cremant de Jura, a 100% chardonnay from Jura, France.

“The nose begins with a boulangerie’s blend of toasted hazelnuts, meshed with pear, baker’s yeast, and sea air.  It plays all rich and creamy with the scents but hits the palate like winter ice–bright, racy, and chiseled.  Almost like a fine Riesling or Vouvray that shows honey and peach but turns into citrus and minerals.  It lives in two universes at once, something we’ve come to expect from Jura wines, which often show heft on the nose but are electric on the palate.”

How’s that for some good wine-speak??!  Just one more pairing still to go after this one as we pass the History Channel sign along the river.

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2008 St. Hiliare Blanquette Limoux

The 2008 St. Hiliare Blanquette Limoux, a blend of 98% Mauzac, Chardonnay, and Chenin Blanc from Languedoc, France.

The second sparking wine that we tasted as we cruised north under the George Washington Bride, circling Manhattan with other cruisers, was this 2008 St. Hiliare Blanquette Limoux – a blend of 98% Mauzac, Chardonnay, and Chenin Blanc from Languedoc, France.  Enjoyable for a variety of reasons, and in no small part because we wouldn’t normally pick up a sparkling or drift to French wines in general.  As such, it was a nice change of pace from our domestic proclivities.  This was paired with my favorite cheese of the day, a La Tur from the Piedmont area of Italy.  The cheese was formed from a blend of sheep, cow, and goat’s milk–it was runny (“oozing” in the words of our host, not a description that I’d usually give to my foodstuffs) around the perimeter with a most, cake-like paste.  Its flavor was earthy and full (“like ice cream served from a warm scoop”)–a truly enjoyable pairing.

“The Blanquette de Limoux is probably the oldest sparking wine in the world.  In 1531, the Benedictine Monks of the Abbey of Saint-Hiliare were already producing Blanquette de Limoux, which thus precedes champagne by more than a century.  The Limoux vineyards are located at Languedoc, in Southern France, at the foothills of the Pyrenees Mountains.  The grapes are selected from clay-limestone plots that capture both the Oceanic and Mediterranean influences.  Dry, toasty, smooth and clean it truly captivates with an attractive yeasty aroma and luscious creamy texture.  The palate is light and crisp with citrus and apple flavors and the body is just hefty enough.”

And on our tour of the world’s wines continues!