2014 Aaron Mercer Chardonnay d’Oro

  Full-Bodied White Wine 2014  USA (Cafifornia – North Central Coast – Monterrey County)   Chardonnay    13.9% alc.      Serve at 55-56ºF (13ºC)   Turn Key Wine Brands           Wine-Searcher Back to Wines to Learn To keep in mind You can learn about the body of wine. This is very far from the light, zesty, easy to drink white wines you can pair with every fish dish. This is a bold player. If the first thing you with a wine is to quaff it… Maybe should try something else. This wine is to entertain your palate for a long time. It’s rich, dense, flavorful, creamy. At the end, you can feel the strenght of the sun in this wine. Smell and taste: maybe, the first thing you will notice is the  mineral aroma, similar to the french chardonnays made in cool climate… But, as a real californian there is some ripe fruits too: orchard fruits, the producer says. Peach and lemon? Yes. But what makes this wine interesting is the effect that 6 months in french oak barrel has: a rich aroma of vanilla and nutmeg. Exercise to learn about oaked and unoaked wine: compared it with other californian chardonnay. I think this wine needs food to pair with and be served not too cold. It is ok if you do it, but, in this case you will find it more soft and pleasant around 55ºF. As a full-bodied white, avoid subtle fish: go for lobster, seasoned poultry and creamy pasta or légumes. Baked vegetables pie or pasties? Sure!. Also, look for umami flavored asian dishes or strong cheeses. I have to...

Vignoble Dampt Freres Chablis Vieilles Vignes

  Medium-Bodied White Wine 2011  FRANCE (Burgundy – Chablis)   Chardonnay    12.5% alc.      Serve at 48-50ºF (9-10ºC)   Domaine Daniel Dampt et Fils  Wine-Searcher Back to Wines to Learn To keep in mind You can learn about the aromas of wine. One of the first things you will notice with this wine is the intensity of  earthy aromas. You will learn what mineral character means, as the main aroma of this wine is far from the typically fruit-driven ones. One further step in wine education. This is an archetype of Chablis wine, the world famous chardonnays from France.  For me, it smells like chalk, wet gravel. Exercise to learn about Old World style and New World style wines: compared it with a californian chardonnay. Smell and taste: after the main mineral aroma that gives you the sensation that the wine is going to be suculent and heavy: it smells like chalk and wet gravel. After you can find some flowers, but it will need some time to these aromas appear. Also, is noticeable a dry sensation (the opposite to sweet), but very balanced and with a tasty finish (the time the taste stays in your palate after swallowing the wine) that stays quite long. You will get a cleaning sensation after every sip of this wine. If you are sensitive, you can find something similiar to tickles on the tip of your tongue, a quality that defines the zesty taste. This is because its acidity (but very subtile and surprising after the intense earth aroma) and it means that is perfect as aperitif (try simple olives, chips, crackers) or to pair with not very heavy...