Tasting - Prince Michel Chardonnay

Name: Prince Michel Chardonnay
Variety: 100% Chardonnay
Region: Central Region, Virginia
Country: USA
Year: 2005 (note: label is borrowed from 2008 vintage)
Price: $7.99

Wine review: The 2005 Chardonnay from Prince Michel is a result of grape selection, barrel fermentation, and sur lie aging. The vineyards selected for this wine are noted for their history of producing Chardonnays with elegant, lingering flavors and fresh, enticing aromas. To integrate and preserve the fruity, creamy, peach and vanilla nose, this wine was fermented in new and one year old oak barrels. A portion was fermented in stainless steel before blending to introduce a crispness to the structure of the wine. Aging sur lie allowed this wine to develop a butterscotch dimension with the broad mouth feel characteristic of our Chardonnay. The barrels also add a dimension of fruitiness and nuttiness. This Chardonnay is complex and lovely, with the structure and character to age well. The delightful aromas and clean, elegant fruit of this wine make it the perfect complement to fresh vegetables, fowl and French Provincial cuisine.

My review: This was a very good white wine; I ranked it an 8 out of 10. It had a delicate soft yellow color and mostly light floral aromas. It was very smooth on the palate and tasted mostly of pear and vanilla, though there were some hints of clove. With an alcohol content of 12.5%, this white had a medium body with lower sweetness and medium acidity and tannin structure. Since this white was not as sweet as most, and was recommended to pair well with vegetables, I tasted it while eating a vegetable pot-pie. The pairing was delicious and I would definitely try this white again.