Wine of the week #28 - Unoaked Chardonnay (White/New World)

Hi all,

After the Shiraz challenge, I've gone for the Chardonnay blind tasting challenge! I randomly selected 4 unoaked Chardonnays under £10 from Chile, Argentina and Australia. The best of the 4 is here below!

It is

A dry white wine made from Chardonnay grapes in the Central Valley in Chile.

Expect

Appearance: a very pale lemon with sparse legs.

Nose: subtle nuances of apple, butter and pears with some toastiness. Slightly reminiscent of mid-range white Burgundys. 

Palate: light wine with relatively thin texture and alcohol (12.5%). Medium-strong flavours of apple, pears & cream/butter with a lime zest finish. Very good balance between acidity and fruit.

Score: 12/20

Easy, crisp & fruity white with creamy apples & pears flavours and a zippy lime zest finish. Great simple quaff.

You'll like it if you like: half price Chablis, apple crumble, pears, cream, light dry wines, seafood.

Have it with:

Chicken pasta in creamy sauce or a Creamy Garlic Penne.

White fish in creamy sauce like this Grilled white fish in lemon & basil cream sauce.

Find it or others:

1) Laithwaites - Don Cayetano - £6.99 - See above.

2) Waitrose - Santa Julia - £5.30 (on offer) - Argentinian fruity Chardonnay with lovely apple & pears flavours. 12/20

3) Laithwaites - Long Terrace - £5.99 - Very decent mid-week Aussie Chardonnay. Well balanced. 11/20.

4) Talking Wines - Emiliana - £6.50 - Creamy apples & pears but lack of balance and slightly sour finish. 9/20.

Did you know?

> Chardonnay still was the Number One varietal in the UK with 8.1% market share of still light wines in 2010 (Nielsen).

> Chardonnay's homeland is in Burgundy where it makes some of the finest whites in the world: Chablis, Puligny-Montrachet, Meursault and numerous other prestigious fine white wines. 

> Chardonnay is a grape variety that ripens in a wide range of climates, is hardy and relatively easy to grow high yields of.

> Chardonnay is also quite versatile in the winery: it responds well to oak (fermentation and ageing), can be aged on its lees (fermentation by products), is ideal for sparkling wine and blends readily with a variety of white and red grapes.

> Forget the Footballer's wife and give Chardonnay another chance this week!

As always, any feedback welcome!

Enjoy your wine!

:@lex