Creamy, not overly oaky Chard with tropical fruit to make it yummy, and it’s under $20

Description: Light bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose. This wine features neutral toasted oak, lemon meringue, pink grapefruit, honeydew melon, kiwi, dill, Macintosh apple, pineapple, vanilla, a touch of coconut and limestone. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Notes: “Fermentation: 50% of this wine was barrel fermented in neutral French, American and Eastern European oak. The other 50% was fermented in stainless steel tanks in order to preserve the natural fruit flavors inherent in this Chardonnay. Aging: The barrel fermented portion was aged sur lie for 7 months. Bâtonnage, the art of stirring the barrels, was performed monthly. This adds a creamy note to the wine and greatly enhances the texture. From the remaining 50% of the stainless steel portion, half was aged on lees for 7 months while the other half was racked clean to preserve the fresh fruit characters.” www.Wentevineyards.com

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with Coconut Crusted Scallops drizzled with Pineapple Rum Sauce.

Tasted: 22 Feb 2015

Best Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

The 2013 Wente Morning Fog Chardonnay, 50% of which was aged in in neutral French, American and Eastern European oak for 7 months, has rich and creamy aromas of butter, vanilla, lemon and green/yellow apples on the nose as well as the palate. It is a medium bodied, dry, fruity wine; with refreshing acidity and a medium finish. It is a food friendly wine; drink now and for the next 3-5 years (cork enclosure). My impression: NICE, 89 pts – recommended for its quality. Tasted in June and again in September/15.

See my wine recommendations readily available at the LCBO here:

http://grapeselections.com/grapeselections

or here @

http://www.winealign.com/wino/dantrcka/recommended-wines-you-can-still-buy