2007 Langtry Estate Genevieve Chardonnay

Specs:

2007 Langtry Estate Genevieve Chardonnay

Guenoc Valley

Middletown, California

14.5 % Alcohol

100% Chardonnay

http://www.guenoc.com/

$35.00

Notes:

Buttery Oaky Chardonnays are the stuff dreams are made of and a good friend was nice enough to give this wine to me as a gift. Langtry Estate was new to me so I was excited to taste this wine. The color is that of a typical buttery Chardonnay; a rich yellow like a ripe golden delicious apple. Oak is on the nose and the flavors mirror that smell.

The taste is heavy at first sip and surprisingly has a very light, crisp and refreshing finish. The light quality of the wine caught me a little off guard; in a good way. Some would say that the fact the flavor drops off for the finish was a bad thing but in this instance it is enjoyable; your palette has a chance to regroup. You immediately taste the acidity and the flavors of lemon. There is a tart characteristic to this wine with a jolt of citrus and some earthy woody undertones. Small underlying flavors of pineapple are present, other than that this wine is pretty straightforward. Oak, Butter and Citrus carry this wine. It is clean, fresh and earthy all at the same time.

This is the prefect wine for a hot summer day. It is also great for those who enjoy Chardonnay but find the "butter" flavor too overpowering. This would pair great with light dishes like salads, cheese, fish and chicken dishes as well as desserts like fruit tarts.

2007 Etude Chardonnay

Specs:

2007 Etude Chardonnay

Carneros Valley California

100% Chardonnay

13.4% Alcohol

http://www.etudewines.com/

$38.00

Notes:

To me this is one of the best Chardonnay's I've had in quite awhile. A friend brought this wine to a dinner and I was blown away by its flavor and smoothness. Etude is known mainly for their Pinot Noir however this Chard gives the Pinot's a run for their money. This wine is a combination of grapes fermented in New French Oak as well as Stainless Steel giving it an amazing balance. Not too buttery and not to acidic. Just the perfect marriage of flavors. The grapes are also closely taken care of and are harvested solely from their estate in Carneros.

At first glance this wine is a deep bright saturated yellow-gold. Primary scents I sense are citrus and oak. The oak is minimal but definitely present. It is a very fresh yet earthy wine with hints of greens and fruits such as peach, lime and lemon. All of these elements are usually what I look for in a Chardonnay. Numerous friends really do not prefer the buttery oakey chards I adore; yet still this is a wine we can all agree on. It is the perfect "meet in the middle" chard and a good introduction to the valleys offerings.

Since this wine is pretty mild as far as chardonnays go I feel it is perfect for pairing. Appetizers, main courses, desserts and on it's own on a warm day. It is AMAZING with a warm apple crisp or a freshly tossed salad.
This wine is shown on back order through the wineries website however it is quite easy to find at wine shops and other online venues.