Varietal: Chardonnay
Region: Virginia – USA
Cost: $16
Light gold in the glass with aromas of citrus, lemon, lime, green apple, quince, and white peach. Â A hint of melon on the palate and just a touch of minerality lead into a slightly floral finish. Â Pairs well with grilled or roasted chicken.
Recommendations: Back in March when my wife and I spent a few days in Virginia Wine Country near Charlottesville, one of the places we stopped on our second day of tastings was Veritas Vineyards. Â We had been there before as her brother was actually married there a few years earlier, but we hadn’t tasted their wines in some time (having missed them at the 2010 Virginia Wine Expo the month before), and wanted to stop in for a visit.
While several of their wines were enjoyable, our hands down favorite of the whites was the Estate Bottled Chardonnay. Â Produced solely in steel tanks, it’s crisp with a nice acidity and flavors of melon. Â What I like most about it is that there’s just a bit of Viognier added to help balance out the finish and add that floral note on the finish that’s indicative of the Viognier grape.
When paired with a dinner of oven-cooked chicken topped with a cajun seasoning, the crispness of the wine did a great job of cutting the slight heat of the food, creating a nice pairing. Â What I like most about this wine is that it pairs the food versatility of Chardonnay with the ease of drinking a Viognier.
If you’re looking for a white that will go well with just about any meal or out on the deck, the Veritas Estate Bottled Chardonnay is a good one to go for. Â The mix of Chardonnay and Viognier is a winner and one I hope they continue to produce.
