A New Zealand Unoaked Chardonnay

Do you like your Chardonnay without oak (from the land of Sauvignon Blanc)?...

Coopers Creek Chardonnay

Today’s wine comes a family-owned winery approximately 35 kilometers (25 miles) northwest of Auckland, New Zealand. The winery was established in 1980. Their website is under construction and in exchange you may access a Facebook page. This wine-producing area of Gisborne was once called “carafe country” and the specialty grape was Mueller-Thurgau, an unexciting German hybrid. Now it’s Chardonnay territory but high volume is still a problem. This winery goes for memorable names such as Cat’s Pee on a Gooseberry Bush. By the way, cat’s pee is a common taste associated with some New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs. The companion wine is an inexpensive Chardonnay from New Zealand’s neighbor, Australia.

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Wine Reviewed
Cooper’s Creek Unoaked Chardonnay 2008 13.5 % alcohol about $11

Let’s start by quoting the marketing materials. “Tasting Note: This wine has obviously not had any oak ageing, but it certainly has had extended less contact because the wine features lovely buttery aromas. On top of that, there are also aromas of peach, apple and floral. Dry and fruity with a lively acidity to bring it all into balance. This long-finishing wine is an excellent partner for poached salmon or grilled chicken breasts with an herb run. (VINTAGES panel, June 2009)” And now for my review.

Coopers Creek Vineyards

At the first sips this wine presented some butter and lemon. The initial meal centered on chicken hamburgers. The wine was lemony and slightly oily with a trace of butter. When paired with Basmati rice the Chardonnay was round and long. In response to cold cooked beets this wine had medium length with light citrus. I added lots of Louisiana hot sauce with chilies and lime to the meat. Chardy’s retort was light citrus and a taste of butter.

My next meal started with Japanese rice crackers that unfortunately contained no Wasabi. Now the Chardonnay was subtle and long, tasting of white peaches. The main dish, boxed eggplant parmigiana containing Mozzarella cheese that I liberally sprinkled with grated Romano cheese, made the wine taste of peaches and white grapefruit; it had pleasant acidity. This libation was overpowered by fruit juice candy. And when paired with fresh strawberries the wine was barely present.

My final meal was a mushroom omelet perked up by chili peppers, parsley flakes, dried basil leaves, and black pepper. The Chardonnay tasted of white grapefruit with a touch of sweetness. It was metallic. The spiciness of zesty packaged guacamole initially went straight through it but then the familiar white grapefruit taste presented itself. Fresh pineapple imparted some burnt sugar taste to the liquid.

The tastings ended with two cheeses. When paired with Havarti cheese containing pimentos the Chardonnay responded with white peaches and lots of acidity but was fairly short. A goat’s milk cheese coated with garlic and fine herbs increased the wine’s lemon taste. I noted some sweetness and the wine was round. It was Valentine’s Day so out came the desserts. The Chardonnay retained its lemony acidity when sipped alongside chocolate truffles. In the face of a chocolate cheesecake with a cookie crumb crust the wine lengthened and I tasted bananas.

Final verdict. I won’t buy this wine again. Frankly it was too blah. I usually not that much of a Chardonnay guy, and nothing in this wine made me change my mind.

Access the companion wine A Wine Lover's Weekly Review Of $10 Wine - A South Eastern Australia Chardonnay

About the Author

Levi Reiss has authored or co-authored ten books on computers and the Internet, but to be honest, he would rather just drink fine Italian or other wine, accompanied by the right foods. He teaches classes in computers at an Ontario French-language community college. His wine websites include
www.theworldwidewine.com    and    http://www.wineinyourdiet.com

Visit his website devoted to Italian travel www.travelitalytravel.com

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