2007 Bouchaine Chardonnay, Carneros, Napa Valley

[wondersofwine]

Glass with dinner at Sonoma Restaurant in Charlotte on my birthday last week. Had it with bruschetta with olive oil, tomatoes, chevre and chives as an appetizer and grilled jumbo shrimp and potato and gruyere gratin as a side. I have had this wine before including at Charlotte Wine and Food Weekend (probably an earlier vintage) and knew that I would like it. I found it on three different restaurant menus in Charlotte and Sonoma was the most expensive by the glass. I should have had it at Zebra instead with the chicken pineapple boat. The website even quotes a magazine review as suggesting this to accompany chicken and pineapple chutney.

Aromas included lemon, vanillin, lanolin and perhaps coconut. Somewhat buttery but not flabby--still tastes crisp. I like it!
A blend of Chardonnay clones UC-Davis 4, Dijon 76 and 96 and a heritage Muscat clone.
Fermented 85-90% in oak barrels and 10-15% in stainless steel, 25% new barrels and 75% from one-year old to neutral barrels. 50% of the wine underwent malolactic fermentation.

[dananne]

Happy belated birthday!

From my experience, Bouchaine can be all over the map. One wine will be stellar, the next pretty awful. Hit or miss. At least it seems that way with their Pinot Noir. I've not had their Chard, so I can't speak to how they handle that grape.

Glad you enjoyed this one!

[winoweenie]

Happy belated B/D there wonders! Glad you enjoyed the wine but the meal sounds stellar to the weener. WEW

[TheEngineer]

Happy B-Day WoW!!!

[wondersofwine]

The Chardonnay seems to be pretty consistent. Thanks for the birthday greetings. I celebrated (nine days after my actual birthday) by hosting a wine tasting fundraiser at my church. Will report on it tomorrow or the next day.