May Wine Club - Chardonnay

This past Monday Wine Club got together to try two higher end Chardonnays.  We were supposed to meet on Thursday May 17th to do this but 4 of the 11 members couldn’t make it so we moved it to Monday instead.  The sad thing is due to last minute emergencies, 4 people didn’t make this meeting so I probably should have just left it on the Thursday instead.

Here is the LCBO information on both of the wines -

NEWTON UNFILTERED CHARDONNAY 2007

VINTAGES 1537
750 mL bottle
Price: $ 64.95
Made in: California, USA
By: Newton Vineyard
Release Date: May 28, 2011
Wine, White Wine
15.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Varietal: Chardonnay
Sweetness Descriptor: XD - Extra Dry

Tasting Note - A rich, unctuous, buttery style. Full-bodied, with spicy fig, melon, smoky oak and honeydew melon flavors that gain depth, body and complexity, ending with a roasted marshmallow aftertaste. Still a bit coarse in texture, but all the right ingredients are in the right places. Drink now through 2016. Score - 91. (James Laube, winespectator.com, Nov. 30, 2010)

MAISON ROCHE DE BELLENE VIEILLES VIGNES MEURSAULT 2009

VINTAGES 241091
750 mL bottle
Price: $ 48.95
Made in: Burgundy, France
By: Maison Roche De Bellene
Release Date: Feb 4, 2012
Wine, White Wine
12.7% Alcohol/Vol.
Varietal: Chardonnay
Sweetness Descriptor: D - Dry

Tasting Note - Meursault produces some of the most luxuriant of Burgundy's white wines, and this is certainly no exception. Aromas of toffee and nuts are wonderfully interlaced with fresh and lively fruit tones. The nose also includes a delicate perfumed note that adds intrigue and complexity. Dry, balanced and quite complex on the palate with good fruit, and a long finish. This is an elegant and finessed wine that will reward 4+ years in the cellar, or can be enjoyed tonight with trout in a white-wine sauce. (VINTAGES panel, Jan. 2011)

I was surprised as both wines were the exact same shade of straw yellow as I poured them out as I was expecting the French one to be a slightly lighter shade.  The nose on both wines though were very different with the Newton being the stronger intensity of the two with vanilla, apple and nutmeg notes vs. the melon, lime and rose notes for the Meursault.  Tasting the two wines, the Newton was the oakier of the two and was a nice mix of tropical fruit, melon and butterscotch with some smokiness to it.  The Meursault was lighter tasting with green apple, lime and some nuttiness to it.  The structure on both wines was lovely, the Meursault was more crisp and refreshing but the Newton had a wonderfully long and lingering finish to it.

Adam, a Wine Club member, brought in a corn, potato and bacon chowder to go with the wines.  Both wines went well with the food for different reasons.  The Newton worked as complimentary pairing with this rich and heavy soup whereas the Meursault was a contrasting pairing as its crispness helped offset the richness of the soup.  I liked the Newton more with the soup but like the Meursault more on its own.

Wine Club members all seemed to like both wines but were split just about down the middle on which one they liked better.

I liked both of these wines and very much enjoyed trying them but will say neither was amazing enough for me to rush out and pick up more of either.  I will add that I did like the fact that both wines were subtly oaked as over-oaked Chardonnay is usually my biggest compliant. 

Cheers!

Mark