To Hell in a Handbasket » chardonnay http://ericsilva.org General Views, Opinions, and Observations in the World Around Me by Eric Silva Mon, 05 Sep 2011 13:48:09 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Silverado Vineyards http://ericsilva.org/2010/01/01/silverado-vineyards/ http://ericsilva.org/2010/01/01/silverado-vineyards/#comments Fri, 01 Jan 2010 05:50:53 +0000 Eric Silva http://ericsilva.org/?p=363 Type: Chardonnay
Year: 2007
Location: Napa County, California
Link: silveradovineyards.com
Rating: 8 out of 10
Opinion: Very good chardonnay comprised of fruit from vineyards in the Napa Valley into Carneros. Minimal oak flavor as to not overpower the fruit. Hints of golden apple and pear aroma with green apple, lemon zest, and honeysuckle flavors provide a refreshing finish.

]]> http://ericsilva.org/2010/01/01/silverado-vineyards/feed/ 0 Stonestreet http://ericsilva.org/2006/11/10/stonestreet/ http://ericsilva.org/2006/11/10/stonestreet/#comments Fri, 10 Nov 2006 23:39:00 +0000 Eric Silva http://ericsilva.org/2006/11/10/stonestreet/ Type: Chardonnay
Year: 2001
Location: Healdsburg, Sonoma County, California
Link: stonestreetwines.com
Rating: 7 out of 10
Description: After a gentle pressing, juice was moved to French oak barrels (38% new) for fermentation. Partial native yeast fermentation encouraged textural and aromatic complexity. Malolactic fermentation followed, with each lot spending a total of seven months sur lies with monthly stirring. The resulting wine is richand creamy on the palate. Flavors reminiscent of pear and apple, with hints of tropical fruits and hazelnut, are nicely integrated and well-balanced with the toasty, spicy characters of French oak. The glass-filling flavors and crisp acid-balance make it partner well with herbed chicken, flavorful cheeses, and a variety of seafood dishes.

Wines aged sur lies are kept in contact with the dead yeast cells and other sedimentary matter that remain when the fermentation is completed. In the last decade, this practice has become fairly commonplace in the making of Chardonnay and is followed also on occasion for Sauvignon Blanc. The hope is that sur lies aging will add complex quality to the wine-often akin to a toasty, roasted-grain character.

]]> http://ericsilva.org/2006/11/10/stonestreet/feed/ 0 Clos du Bois http://ericsilva.org/2006/11/10/clos-du-bois/ http://ericsilva.org/2006/11/10/clos-du-bois/#comments Fri, 10 Nov 2006 23:39:00 +0000 Eric Silva http://ericsilva.org/2006/11/10/clos-du-bois/ Type: Chardonnay
Year: 2003
Location: Geyserville, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California
Link: closdubois.com
Rating: 7 out of 10
Opinion: This wine was characterized by the subtle taste of the apple, pear, and peach flavors in the wine. This subtlty was accented with oak and spice. It was a nice wine to drink on a cold night with a good meal.

]]> http://ericsilva.org/2006/11/10/clos-du-bois/feed/ 0 Iron Horse http://ericsilva.org/2006/11/10/iron-horse/ http://ericsilva.org/2006/11/10/iron-horse/#comments Fri, 10 Nov 2006 23:38:00 +0000 Eric Silva http://ericsilva.org/2006/11/10/iron-horse/ Type: Chardonnay
Year: 2001
Location: Sebastopol, Sonoma County, California
Link: ironhorsevineyards.com
Rating: 9 out of 10
Opinion: One of the best Chardonnays I have ever had. A wonderful tasting wine, with a smooth texture. This wine is full of flavor, and has a bold, lingering finish.

]]> http://ericsilva.org/2006/11/10/iron-horse/feed/ 0 William Hill Winery http://ericsilva.org/2006/11/10/william-hill-winery/ http://ericsilva.org/2006/11/10/william-hill-winery/#comments Fri, 10 Nov 2006 23:37:00 +0000 Eric Silva http://ericsilva.org/2006/11/10/william-hill-winery/ Type: Chardonnay
Year: 2000
Location: Napa Valley, California
Link: williamhillwinery.com
Rating: 8 out of 10
Opinion: Superb chardonnay. Moderate in flavor with a nice smooth finish.

]]> http://ericsilva.org/2006/11/10/william-hill-winery/feed/ 0 Chateau Souverain http://ericsilva.org/2006/11/10/chateau-souverain/ http://ericsilva.org/2006/11/10/chateau-souverain/#comments Fri, 10 Nov 2006 23:36:00 +0000 Eric Silva http://ericsilva.org/2006/11/10/chateau-souverain/ Type: Chardonnay
Year: 2002
Location: Geyserville, Sonoma County, California
Rating: 7 out of 10
Opinion: Very good multi-layered chardonnay. Moderate in flavor with a nice finish.

]]> http://ericsilva.org/2006/11/10/chateau-souverain/feed/ 0 Barefoot Reserve http://ericsilva.org/2006/11/10/barefoot-reserve/ http://ericsilva.org/2006/11/10/barefoot-reserve/#comments Fri, 10 Nov 2006 23:35:00 +0000 Eric Silva http://ericsilva.org/2006/11/10/barefoot-reserve/ Type: Chardonnay
Year: 2002
Location: Graton, Sonoma County, California
Rating: 6 out of 10
Opinion: Decent chardonnay, but has an odd aftertaste. This wine is moderate in flavor.

]]> http://ericsilva.org/2006/11/10/barefoot-reserve/feed/ 0 Robert Mondavi Winery http://ericsilva.org/2006/11/10/robert-mondavi-winery/ http://ericsilva.org/2006/11/10/robert-mondavi-winery/#comments Fri, 10 Nov 2006 23:32:00 +0000 Eric Silva http://ericsilva.org/2006/11/10/robert-mondavi-winery/ Type: Chardonnay
Year: 2002
Location: Oakville, Los Carneros, Southern Napa and Sonoma Counties, California
Link: robertmondaviwinery.com
Rating: 6 out of 10
Opinion: This wine was good overall, but there was nothing “special” about it. It had a good flavor, and would complement most poultry or seafood dishes.

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