Sunny Cali Chard

The weather has been warming up lately in Southern California, with the sun shining nice and bright almost everyday. What to drink under the sun? A nice cool bottle of California Chardonnay! Let’s go Whites!

2007 Sonoma Loeb Chardonnay, Sonoma County
Popped and poured. The chardonnay displays a light golden hue – almost clear on the rims. Wow! Nose explodes with honey, ripe pineapples, fresh honeydew melon, crisp Washington red apples; hints of vanilla and magnolia flowers. I really can’t get enough of this aroma! Truly in your face white fruit. Very little oak, if any; the more I smell it, the more I am convinced that the apples truly dominate this nose. Wow. Let’s see how it works the palate. Very different on the palate; apples still present, but to be honest, I’m really not getting anything else. After about 20 minutes in the glass, I get hints of minerals and pineapples on the finish. A medium oaked wine, the tannins are still present yet dissipated throughout the night. Quite disappointed on the palate to be honest. The nose had me expecting a lot. To try again the second night. Will report back.

Second night, nose is still quite explosive. Apples and pineapples with hints of floral notes still sing beautifully! If I could, I would make this into a scented candle! But of course, the nose wasn’t the problem last night, it was the palate. And tonight? Palate a little more expressive I must say. Sweet white fruits are coming through with very mild oak and minerals. Light tannins still present but overall, no depth on the finish.

I guess the nose really got me going on this wine. I had high expectations for this chardonnay – one of creamy, buttery taste followed by a firm vanilla fruit finish. Sadly, it wasn’t so. But then again, it’s not a wine to be poured down the drain or mix with soda water; I still think it’s a decent bottle at its price-point of $10. 87 pts