TN: '96 Sterling Chardonnay

[Randy Caparoso]

Oh, I knew that the match wasn't planned. But that's the way things are, aren't they?

It brings back nineteen years or so when I was still an eager-beaver young sommelier, and I happened to have struck up a good conversation with a fairly new, innovative California winemaker at a local wine store. We both had some hot, new Chards to taste and so I suggested that we go my home and do some serious blind tasting. I called my wife at home and asked her about the dinner; and she said everything was perfect, because she had prepared a wonderful chicken dinner. "You're gonna love it," she reassured me.

I remember, then, walking through the door with my newfound friend and immediately getting hit in the nose with powerful aromas of ginger, garlic, and watercress, which she had cooked in a stew with the chicken. Of course, it was one of my favorite dishes -- an exotic, Hawaiian style stew -- but I think I upset her quite a bit when my face fell and I sort of whispered, "Did it have to be ginger watercress chicken!? This dish will absolutely destroy the Chards!" When I think back, I sure was an insensitive a-word in those days (and I don't mean just "anal").

Anyhow, we all eventually got over it. Yes, the Chards were pretty awful with the dinner. But luckily, this winemaker also happened to have brought an additional wine, which was something of a specialty of his -- a feathery light, fragrant, off-dry Muscat Blanc. And guess what... it was absolutely fabulous with the chicken! So all's well that end's well, I guess.