CRU “Two Vineyards” Chardonnay
I discovered this little gem while wine tasting at Woodlands Market. I almost passed at this, assuming that, much like 90% all California Chardonnays, that it would be over-oaked and the barrel-taste would overpower the Chardonnay. Boy was I wrong!
The nose on this wine was superb, even if it happened to have 100% ML (malolactic acid). Soft hints of butter mixed with a bartlet pear could be found when I gave this wine a sniff. Very subtle tones of oak were coming out, which further surprised me to hear that it was 100% barrel fermented. The silverlining in this wine was the fact that the 75% of the barrels used were used French Oak Barrels, so the wine didn’t soak up so much of the toasted oak.
The color further showed how the used barrels took a strong part in making this wine what it is. A lighter shade of yellow could be seen, almost moving towards a Viognier-shade or two. The golden yellow traditional color you’d expect to find of a textbook California Chardonnay was no where to be found.
Tasting the wine was such a treat. The oak was there, but it wasn’t in the spotlight. It took the role of a supporting actor, then the top dog. The pear and a slight hint of apple, I’d venture to say Granny Smith, were coming out in force. Of course, mixed in with a small stick of butter.
Overall, a very clean and pleasant mouth feel. I didn’t lurch from excessive tannins or oak, and my tounge’s taste buds didn’t bounce around trying to assimilate with one another. An all around well-made Chardonnay.
This wine is easy to comprehend, which makes it an ideal candidate for Valentine’s day. It will appease the ABC fans (Anything But Chardonnay) as well as the ML addicts.
Serving suggestions:
Baked Brie With Pimentón Toasts- Brie on its own would be alright, but utilize the power of the oven, a hint of garlic, butter and paprika to drive this dish home.
Two Vineyards 2006 Chardonnay by numbers:
Estimated Retail Price: $19.99
Alcohol: 14.5%
Total number of cases produced: 432
Appellations: 83% Paraiso Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands
17% Redding Ranch, Greenfield
Places where you can find/buy this wine: