A Sonoma County, California Chardonnay
California here I come. Maybe...Weinstock Chardonnay Label
Today’s wine is a kosher Chardonnay from the highly prestigious Sonoma County, California north of San Francisco. The winemaker, Weinstock Cellars has no website and the web provides precious little information on the company. Actually, this is my second review of one of their products. So I’ll quote the back label on company policy. “Reflecting our desire to improve the environment, Weinstock Wines are produced using ‘sustainable winegrowing policies and practices’ directed toward improving our wines and our environment.” The companion wine is a Chilean kosher Chardonnay coming in at two-thirds the price.
OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.
Wine Reviewed
Weinstock Cellar Select Chardonnay 2007 13.9% alcohol about $15
Let’s start by quoting the marketing materials “Tasting Note: Medium gold in the glass – pure gold on the nose. Our panel was unanimous in their praise for this wine. Delightfully intense notes of peach, red apple, ripe pear, and vanilla set expectations quite high, only to be followed by a likewise impressive, full-bodied palate with a lovely creamy texture and tremendous fruit character throughout. Magical. Pair with richly flavored chicken or fish dishes. A sure hit for any celebration. (VINTAGES panel, Sept. 2010)” And now for my review.
Oxnard California
At the first sips this wine was somewhat ethereal, tasting of caramel. The initial meal centered on a honey-garlic barbecued chicken breast. I tasted toast and some oak. When paired with the accompanying medley of fried red peppers, onions, and mushrooms over Basmati rice the Chardonnay was nicely acidic but oak was dominant. With the fruit juice candy dessert it was just a little pleasant.
My next meal started with Wasabi-less Japanese rice crackers. In response the Chardonnay was oaky and tasted of caramel. The main dish was a boxed Ziti Siciliano with Mozzarella cheese and a bit of eggplant that I liberally sprinkled with grated Romano cheese. Now the wine was fairly long; it made me think of light toast and sweetness. It was almost ethereal. Fresh strawberries intensified the toast and the wine was very long. With chocolate truffles the Chardonnay was somewhat metallic and tasted of pears.
My final meal was a mushroom omelet perked up by chili peppers, parsley flakes, dried basil leaves, and black pepper. The Chardonnay offered some smoke and the spices came through. With the side of broiled eggplant brimming with garlic not much taste got through.
The tastings ended with two cheeses. A Havarti cheese with pimentos rendered the Chardonnay’s oak dominant but not omnipresent. The pairing with a goat’s milk cheese coated with garlic and fine herbs tamed the oak and lengthened the wine. Cheesecake is sort of cheese so why not? When paired with a chocolate cheesecake on a cookie crumb crust the wine almost disappeared.
Final verdict. I had to pay much more than the Internet-price listed above and would hesitate before buying it again. It reached high but often had too much oak, a real no-no from my point of view. But if you like your Chardonnay oaky and can get the Internet price, this may be a fine choice for you, even more so if you want your wines kosher. Let’s hope that the company goes Internet.
Access the companion wine A Wine Lover's Weekly Review Of $10 Wine - A Maule Valley Chilean 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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