2001 Kali Hart Vineyard Chardonnay

[Innkeeper]

For dinner tonight we had the last of the Market Inn She Crab Soup out of the freezer with garlic baguette. It was the very last too, as we understand that the venerable Market Inn in the Nation’s Capitol may not be anymore. Andrea in her “Great Tastes Made Simple” recommended the biggest, baddest New World Chardonnay with it. We, as you might suspect, didn’t have quite such a creature in our cellar. So we went with the 2001 Talbott, Kali Hart, Monterey County, Chardonnay ($12) that we brought back from California last month. It was light straw in color. Fresh bright citrus with hints of kiwi, honeydew melon, pear and fennel on the nose and upfront. Lemons and grapefruit, balanced acid, and plenty of complexity across the palate; with just a tad of toasty oak. Long-lasting, lively, and refreshing finish. With all the cream and such in the soup, it was probably the best possible dish to have with it. Just great.