Rombauer Chardonnay 2017

2017 Carneros Chardonnay wine bottle
Mostly I skip the chardonnay and serve something else, thinking the type too typical: It is popular because it is safe and nondescript. But there are some chardonnays that stand out for being particularly well-crafted and tasty, worth drinking because they are examples of winemaking excellence. Rombauer's is just such a one. It comes from Carneros, Napa Valley, California, and follows the usual pattern of California Chardonnays, fruity and oaky, but does it better than most.

The wine shows a pale gold color and is lightly scented with melon and tropical fruit notes. The flavor is pleasingly complex, apple and peach, with grace note of butter, pineapple and vanilla. The finish is agreeably tart, with a mineral hint. My review is of the 2017 vintage, but this is a very reliable label: good every year, consistently fruity, smooth and rich.

This wine cries out to be paired with seafood, but if you are having roasted fowl, I would never say you were wrong for siding it with this chardonnay.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Charcuterie board

Image
A really good charcuterie board contains multiple interesting flavor combinations. It invites your guests to find their favorite mix and match flavor ensembles. One of the essential skills of chaphood is the ability to throw together a cold platter. It is a fine way to escape having to cook and still put on a feed for guests. A good charcuterie board begins with good meat, not the cheap stuff. Use several kinds. Do not be afraid of unconventional choices such as braised beef or Chinese roast pork. There seems little reason not to include a few strips of crispy bacon. Nearly everyone likes bacon and it is quickly and easily prepared using the microwave . Italy appears to have made cold meats a national priority. There are a couple dozen varieties of salami, there are cured meats such prosciutto, and lots and lots of other types. I consider a stop at the Italian market essential in setting up a cold dinner. While I am there I get some olives too, to serve on the s...
Read more

Are we in a wine bubble market?

I lately reviewed a rather good wine that would get my vote at twenty dollars. But its liquor store price is thirty-five dollars a bottle and its restaurant price above a hundred. I do not pay for the wines I review. That is an inescapable fact of the industry. Things work that way for a reason. The purpose is to prevent a riot in which people chase each other down the street, reporters demanding their money back from wine sellers, followed by editors hounding reporters about expense accounts, followed by publishers and accountants shouting about the bottom line, and advertising men whining about everyone spoiling their "campaigns." Perhaps one wine in four gets my mention, which is what I do instead of reviewing three wines negatively. I owe good language to the vintners and distributors who have avoided riots by pulling the cork gratis. I hope to offer a good turn, in return, as they say. Let me tell you a story. In the nineteen-nineties, Carribean cigars w...
Read more

Spaghetti with garlic and oil (aglio e olio)

Image
This is a wonderfully versatile side dish. Decrease the quantity of garlic to complement mild-flavored main courses. Increase it to accompany strongly savory dishes. Cook 1 pound of spaghetti according to the package directions. While that is cooking, Sautee 5 minced garlic cloves  in  1/2 cup olive oil,   in a large skillet. Don't over-cook the garlic, for that produces a bitter flavor. You want the garlic just beginning to turn golden. When the garlic is done, halt the sauteeing by taking the pan from the heat and adding  1/4 cup water.  Stir into the skillet: 3 Tablespoons chopped fresh parsley 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (or to taste) 1 teaspoon salt Add the cooked and drained pasta to the skillet and toss to combine the ingredients. Adjust the seasoning. Serve the seasoned spaghetti alongside the entree of your choice. Some cooks liven up the presentation with some diced tomato sprinkled atop the spaghetti, or with sun-dried...
Read more