Hello everybody and welcome back to another installment of my series on mid-week value wines. How was the holiday weekend for everyone in the states? Gotta thank the President's of past for giving all of us a free Monday. I will have to put off Napa for another week I guess.....
So by now I think most are starting to get the hang of this series. I pick one wine every Tuesday to feature as my 'Value Wine of the Week.' Guidelines are simple, taste good and be under $15, that's about it. Otherwise no holds are barred and no style is omitted. For today we are going with a California Chardonnay, America's favorite varietal.
The producer is Heron, based out of Southern Napa. The label owns no vineyards, but contracts with growers for grapes to purchase. Heron actuall began in Southern France with a Vin de Pays Merlot, which they still produce today. To date I have only tried the Chardonnay from California, but would be interested in experiencing more of the line.
Heron Chardonnay, 2005, California
A good vintage for California Chardonnay, with the fruit being sourced from Russian River Valley, Carneros, and the Santa Maria. I was pleasantly surprised upon opening the bottle to find it was holding up as well as it was. The color was fairly golden and concentrated, but still had tinges of youth on the rim. The fruit aromas were dense and preserved well, with apples and pineapple and pears in syrup. The oak influence was noticable but not overwhelming, as half of this wine is done in oak and the other half in steel and then blended. The palate was full bodied and consistent, with the fruit being bolstered by the creamy, tangerine oil mouthfeel. There were subtle spices notes, but the fruit was the shining component.
For about $13 for the current 2008 vintage I would easily recommend this Chardonnay to someone who is looking for a clear example that is not overblown by oak and maleolactic fermentation. Only one way to find out though...and that's to go experience it for yourself. Salute!
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