This week we tasted Chardonnay from several areas around the world. We tasted Chardonnay from here in the USA along with South Africa, France, Italy and Chile. It was interesting tasting the differences and similarities of the same grape from different countries.
2007 Mulderbosch Chardonnay – This wine is from the Stellenbosch Hils area of South Africa. It was a medium yellow color with a vegetal and citrus nose. The flavors were citrus and mineral with good acid and medium length finish. No wood was perceivable in the wine.
2010 Bolla Chardonnay Delle Venezie IGT – From the Veneto area in northern Italy it had a very light yellow color, almost clear. There was a tropical fruit and floral nose, minerals, citrus and orange blossom flavors, good acid and a long finish.
2006 Grove Street Sonama County Chardonnay – The color was a somewhat dark yellow. The nose was stinky initially but blows off to leave anise and vanilla. This wine had a rounder mouthfeel with toast and caramel flavors. Good acid with fairly long finish with flavors of smoke. Flavors seem to come from the barrel toast.
2007 Mommessin Pouilly Fuisse – Another dark yellow wine. There was a tart (cheesy) nose with honey and mineral flavors. An interesting wine with plenty of acid and a slightly bitter finish. Some tasters thought this was an older Chardonnay than it was.
2009 Columbia Crest Grand Estates Chardonnay – Made in the Columbia Valley in eastern Washington, the color was a light yellow. There was a floral, orange blossom nose with tropical fruit, orange and caramel flavors. A rounder mouth feel than some of the others, with good acid and fairly long finish.
2009 Marques de Casa Concha Chardonnay – From the Limari Valley in northern Chile the wine was a light yellow. There was a toasted almond nose with mineral and citrus flavors, not floral. Plenty of acid and a fairly long finish.
All of these wines are inexpensive and easy drinking if you are looking for a light Chardonnay. Great for summer sipping when you don’t want a big buttery, oakey wine.
