October 8, 2020
F.J. Serra Chardonnay 2018
I’m continuing my adventure through the land of Chardonnay
with this California wine. Some people
have asked me why I keep buying bottles and trying a wine I know I don’t
love. Chardonnay, in general, and I
haven’t gotten along well. But every
once in a while, I find one I love.
This adventure is to help me define what I don’t (and what I
do) love about the grape. How can the
same grape taste so drastically different from two different locations? A combination of weather, soil, temperature,
and location can make a huge difference.
As I’ve worked through this taste testing, I realized I was
learning more about the location of grapes than anything else. California produces a Chardonnay I don’t
love. There are some that are better
than others. However, you take that vine
and move it to France? Amazing
wines. I love Chardonnay from France.
Everything about the wine changes once you change
locations. A few miles can make a
mountain of difference.
This Chardonnay isn’t so bad. The oak is light, not at all like many
California Chardonnays that feel like you’re eating a piece of wood. It’s drinkable without being buttery. Instead I get a lot of fruit – pear and apple
most prominently, with a touch of cream.
Not butter – cream.
I’ll keep on this journey of discovery with Chardonnay for a
while longer. It’s a heavy enough white
for fall. Maybe I’ll try Cab on my next
trip.
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