Chardonnay From Around the World Wine Tasting

Thursday, July 11, 2019 - 07:30 PM

This Event has been read: 1383 times.

 

Getting to know wine is getting to know the world. More than just a complex and delicious drink, wine is history, geography, the very soil from which the grapes are grown. It opens us to life on a deeper level and it enriches and enhances our days.

THOM ELKJER, Adventures in Wine

 

 

Thursday night July 11th at Wine Watch we will pay tribute to one of the most famous white wine varietals on the face of the earth- Chardonnay.   We will give you our “Wine Drinking People” 30 different Chardonnay based wines on the table this evening.   Toni Lampasone will be making a few tasty treats to accompany the Chardonnay as we unveil the new Wine Watch Wine Cave at 839 NE 3rd Avenue next door to the Wine Bar.  The fee for this tasting is $45+ tax for reservations call 954-523-9463 or email andy@winewatch.com.

 

chardonnay

Chardonnay Tasting at Wine Watch
Thursday, July 11th, 2019
7:30 PM

For much of the Chardonnay varietal's history, a connection was assumed between Chardonnay and Pinot noir or Pinot blanc. In addition to being found in the same region of France for centuries, ampelographers noted that the leaves of each plant have near-identical shape and structure. Pierre Galet disagreed with this assessment, believing that Chardonnay was not related to any other major grape variety. Viticulturalists Maynard Amerine & Harold Olmo proposed a descendency from a wild Vitis vinifera vine that was a step removed from white Muscat.

 

 

Chardonnay's true origins were further obscured by vineyard owners in Lebanon and Syria, who claimed that the grape's ancestry could be traced to the Middle East, from where it was introduced to Europe by returning Crusaders, though there is little external evidence to support that theory.

 

Another theory about the evolution of Chardonnay is that it originated from an ancient indigenous vine found in Cyprus. Modern DNA fingerprinting research done at University of California, Davis, now suggests that Chardonnay is the result of a cross between the Pinot and Gouais Blanc (Heunisch) grape varieties. It is thought that the Romans brought Gouais Blanc from Croatia, and it was widely cultivated by peasants in Eastern France. The Pinot of the French aristocracy grew in close proximity to the Gouais Blanc, giving both grapes ample opportunity to interbreed. Since the two parents were genetically distant, many of the crosses showed hybrid vigour and were selected for further propagation. These "successful" crosses included Chardonnay and siblings such as Aligoté, Aubin Vert, Auxerrois, Bachet noir, Beaunoir, Franc Noir de la-Haute-Saône, Gamay Blanc Gloriod, Gamay noir, Melon, Knipperlé, Peurion, Roublot, Sacy[6] and Dameron.

There are around 40 clonal varieties of Chardonnay that can be found around the world today, most of which were developed at the University of Burgundy in Dijon. The so-called "Dijon clones" are bred for their adaptive attributes, with vineyard owners planting the clonal variety best suited to their terroir and which will produce the type of characteristics that they are seeking in the wine. Examples include the lower-yielding clones Dijon-76, 95 & 96 that produce more flavor-concentrated clusters. Dijon-77 & 809 produce more aromatic wines with a "grapey" perfume, while Dijon-75, 78, 121, 124, 125 & 277 are more vigorous and higher yielding clones.

New World varieties include the Mendoza clone, which produced some of the early Californian Chardonnays. The Mendoza clone is prone to developed millerandage, also known as "hens and chicks", where the berries develop unevenly.

We start our Journey with the Chardonnay grape in the Macon with one of my favorite producers in Burgundy, Domaine Des Valanges and a picture of our group during our visit to Burgundy in May of 2015.

Valanges Tasting with Boys.jpg

The gang from our 2015 Burgundy/Champagne adventure reunited at the Chardonnay tasting last year, every time I see this picture, I miss the stash.  Stay tuned for the next Wine Watch wine adventure in Tuscany February of 2020.

 

Twenty One Wines Presents:

Image result for 2015 Domaine des Valanges Saint-VĂ©ran Les Terres Noires

2015 Domaine des Valanges Saint-Véran Les Terres Noires
Price: $23.25       Sale $20.46

Domaine des Valanges has always tended my vines in a spirit of respect for the environment, and in view of making fine wine.  We focus on traditional methods that reflect the terroir in order to produce wines of character.  Furthermore, we feel it is important to let the vines find a natural equilibrium within their ecosystem. We therefore intervene as little as possible in both viticulture and winemaking to retain each cuvée’s personality, as well as vintage character.

Wine Enthusiast – 91 Points
"This wine comes from a single vineyard site on a south/south-east facing slope. It is rich in everything that a Saint-Véran should have: ripe fruit, balanced acidity and a generous full texture. With acidity to match, this is developing into a fine wine. Drink from late 2018." – R.V.

 

2017 Pierre Quenard Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons
Price: $39.00       Sale $34.32

Today, the Pierre Quenard “method” is a careful mix of traditional and modern techniques. Following tradition, each parcel is vinified individually, in order to respect the identity and authenticity of the terroir. Modern technology is used to produce consistently high-quality wines, while retaining the inimitable “Quenard” style. Each wine must find its own identity through specially adapted, tailor-made wine making.

 

2015 Bethel Heights Eola-Amity Hills Chardonnay Estate
Price: $30.00       Sale $26.40

The fruit was whole-cluster pressed, barrel fermented in neutral 500L oak puncheons, traditional 228 L barrels, and one 3000L foudre (a big oval shaped oak tank). The new wine was aged on the lees with complete malolactic fermentation, and bottled after eleven months in barrelThe fruit was whole-cluster pressed, barrel fermented in neutral 500L oak puncheons, traditional 228 L barrels, and one 3000L foudre (a big oval shaped oak tank). The new wine was aged on the lees with complete malolactic fermentation, and bottled after eleven months in barrel.

 

2017 Foxen Vineyard & Winery Chardonnay Block UU Bien Nacido Vineyard Santa Maria Valley
Price: $36.50       Sale $32.12

Bill Wathen and Dick Doré have been making wine together since 1985, when they founded Foxen Winery at the historic Rancho Tinaquaic in northern Santa Barbara County. Since that time, their dedication has remained the same - the creation of very small-production, vineyard-designated wines using a "minimalist" approach to winemaking. The winery is named in memory of William Benjamin Foxen, an English sea captain and Dick's great-great grandfather, who came to Santa Barbara in the early 1800's. In 1837, this Santa Barbara County pioneer purchased the Rancho Tinaquaic, a Mexican Land Grant that originally totaled nearly 9,000 acres and comprised most of what is now known as Foxen Canyon. Captain Foxen adopted the distinctive "anchor" as his ranch cattle brand, which has become a trademark of the winery. It is very fitting that Foxen Winery makes its home on the 2,000-acre Rancho Tinaquaic, which remains in family hands

 

2016 Anthill Farms Russian River Valley Chardonnay Peugh Vineyard
Price: $51.00       Sale $44.88

This head-trained vineyard sits smack dab in the middle of the Russian River Valley, on the plains that make up the northwestern outskirts of Santa Rosa. The faded brown soils, known as Huichica loam, offer an excellent mix of low fertility and rapid drainage. Most notable about the site, however, is the age of the vines: we don’t know the exact age, but the best indication is that they were planted in the early 1940s, making it some of the oldest producing Chardonnay in the state .Anthill Farms is an exciting new project that focuses on producing exceptional pinot noir from a broad range of North Coast vineyards. The properties are managed with intensive and meticulous farming practices, with minimal ecological impact. As for winemaking, there are two unchanging goals: to make wines that express the growing site and the characteristics of the vintage above all else, and to make wines that, simply put, taste good. These goals require gentle handling from crushing to bottling, judicious use of oak, and, perhaps most importantly, leaving the wine alone as much as possible.

 

2016 Bastianich Colli Orientali del Friuli Chardonnay Vini Orsone
Price: $15.75       Sale $13.86

The Bastianich winery, founded in 1997, strives to understand the history and culture of Friuli-Venezia Giulia and take it to a new level. We create unique wines that speak of place but, at the same time, show remarkable power and balance. Vespa Bianco and Vespa Rosso are named after the ever-present wasps attracted to ripe grapes. These blends are made in an area known for single-varietal wines, shifting the focus from the grape to the terroir. Calabrone, which means hornet, is an estate reserve red blend made only in the best vintages with hand-destemmed, partially dried fruit, and is released 5 years after the vintage. Native varieties, such as Tocai Friulano, are unblended to showcase the uniqueness of the grape. The pinnacle of this being Tocai Plus, a particularly complex example made with late-harvest and dried fruit from a single-vineyard of 60 year-old vines.

 

Southern Glaziers

Image result for Gaja Chardonnay Rossj Bass 2017

Gaja Chardonnay Rossj Bass 2017
Price: $117.00    Sale $102.96

Davis Bynum Russian River Chardonnay River West Vineyard 2016
Price: $17.50       Sale $15.40

Duckhorn Chardonnay Napa Valley 2017
Price: $30.00       Sale $26.40

Latour Chassagne Montrachet 2015
Price: $71.25       Sale $62.70

Ridge Estate Chardonnay Santa Cruz Montains 2017
Price: $57.75       Sale $ 50.82

2017 Goldschmidt Chardonnay Singing Tree Russian River
Price: $19.75    Your Price: $17.38               Quantity in Stock: 28

2016 Freemark Abbey Chardonnay Napa Valley
Price: $27.00    Your Price: $23.76               Quantity in Stock: 32

2016 Stonestreet Chardonnay Estate Alexander Valley
Price: $29.00    Your Price: $25.52               Quantity in Stock: 88

 

 

Breakthru

Image result for DuMol Chardonnay Wester Reach

DuMol Chardonnay Wester Reach
Price: $67.50       Sale $59.40

Von Strasser Chardonnay Rudy
Price: $25.50       Sale $22.44

Owen Roe (Washington) Yakima Valley Sharecropper
Price: $20.25       Sale $17.82

Bessin Chablis Valmur Grand Cru
Price: $96.00       Sale $84.48

2017 Penfolds Chardonnay Max's Cuvee South Australia
Price: $19.50    Your Price: $17.16               Quantity in Stock: 58

2016 Beringer Luminus Chardonnay Napa
Price: $25.25    Your Price: $22.22               Quantity in Stock: 24

 

Florida Wine Company

Image result for 2017 Matthiasson Chardonnay Linda Vista

2017 Matthiasson Chardonnay Linda Vista
Price: $33.25       Sale $29.26

2016 Cruse Wine Co Rorick Chardonnay Sierra Foothills
Price: $34.50       Sale $30.36

2016  Chanin Chardonnay Los Alamos
Price: $57.50       Sale $50.60

2015 Lutum Durrel Chardonnay
Price: $57.50       Sale $50.60

 

Breakthru

Groth Vineyards Chardonnay Oakville Napa
Price: $35.75       Sale $31.46

Bouchard Pouilly Fuisse
Price: $30.50       Sale $26.84

Dutton Goldfield Dutton Ranch Chardonnay Russian River
Price: $31.50       Sale $27.72

Long Meadow Ranch Tanbark Mill Vineyard Chardonnay Anderson Valley
Price: $54.75       Sale $48.18

 

Republic National

Image result for Cakebread Chardonnay  Reserve Napa Valley 2015

Cakebread Chardonnay  Reserve Napa Valley 2015
Price: $74.25       Sale $65.34

ZD Chardonnay California 2017 
Price: $25.50       Sale $22.44

Chalk Hill Estate Chardonnay     Sonoma 2016    
Price: $37.50       Sale $33.00

Domaine Ferret Pouilly Fuisse 2015
Price: $42.00       Sale $36.96

Cabreo La Pietra Chardonnay Tuscany 2017
Price: $36.00       Sale $31.68

Concha Y Toro Chardonnay Amelia Casablanca 2016
Price: $49.50       Sale $43.56

 

Opici

Image result for Grgich Hills Chardonnay Napa 2015

Grgich Hills Chardonnay Napa 2015
Price: $44.00       Sale $38.72

Alpha Omega II Chardonnay 2015
Price: $26.25       Sale $23.10

AXR Chardonnay 2015  $26.67
Price: $40.25       Sale $35.42

Mount Eden Estate Chardonnay 2015
Price: $66.00       Sale $58.08

Rams Gate Chardonnay Carneros 2016
Price: $46.50       Sale $40.92

Evoluna Chardonnay 2015
Price: $31.50       Sale $27.72

Bichot Chablis 1er Cru Vaucopin 2015
Price: $43.75       Sale $38.50

Bichot Chablis Les Vaudesir Grand Cru 2016
Price: $83.25       Sale $73.26

Menu

5 Spice Scented Crispy Pork Belly Bites with Jalapeno-Orange-Honey Marmalade

Crunchy Cool Chicken Salad Buns with Toasted Walnuts, Grapes & Tarragon on Brioche Bun

Seared Tuna Medallions marinated in citrus miso, grilled and served on Cucumber Chips with Meyer Lemon-Vanilla Aioli

Savory Chevre Goat Cheese Gougeres Puffs finished with Roasted Strawberry White Balsamic Syrup

Mini Vanilla Bean Crème Brulee with Fresh Berries

 

The fee for this tasting is $45+ tax for reservations call 954-523-9463 or email andy@winewatch.com.

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