This is a lovely chardonnay with pretty fruit flavors that make this wine perfectly suited for my palate. But those of you who crave big, buttery, oaky chards won’t like this one. It was aged in French and Hungarian oak, 45 percent of which were new barrels, yet the oak doesn’t dominate the fruit. It opens with bright notes of apple, pear, citrus, and melon with nuances of tropical fruits and honey. Easy drinking and a perfect aperitif, this chardonnay is also quite food friendly. This nicely balanced white is a great choice for white fish, prawns, crab, or lobster. It’s available on Amazon.com for only $20 retail.
This article appears in Jun 20-27, 2013.