Ontario Reviews

Southbrook 2010 Chardonnay - Whimsy!
There are some wines that I have to preface with this statement: "I am not by any means a Chardonnay fan, a devotee of the Chardonnay grape, nor a lover of all things Chardonnay." I say that because what I am about to tell you rips my very soul in two and yet adds a sort of salve to my dislike for this grape. This Southbrook Chardonnay is one of the best expressions of the grape I have ever tasted. There is so much to say and so little space to do it in, so let me get started. This wine spent 10 months in 100% French oak with full lees contact the whole time and was also naturally fermented in the same barrel - meaning it spent its whole life in one place ... only 4 barrels were produced, that equals only about 100 cases. The nose is pineapple, caramel, toffee apple, vanilla-peach; with so much fruit and subtle barrel nuances that it's a shame to stop smelling it ... then into the mouth it goes and it's a whole new ballgame. The wine went through malolactic fermentation so there is a creaminess in the mouth, especially upon entry, but it is also reigned by some lovely bright acidity. A very fruit forward wine that has a little bit of everything including some exotic elegance with hints of pineapple and mango, papaya along with vanilla, apple, and peach. Not to belabour the point of how much I really liked this wine, but there was a real elegance of fruit here and a real deft hand with the barrel use so that it plays a supporting role - not a staring one. Simply put this is one awesome Chardonnay, and will have me waffling on the subject of Chardonnay, at least for the next 4-6 months. Price: $34.95 - Rating: *****
2010
White
Chardonnay
5
$34.95
Niagara Peninsula
at the winery
http://www.southbrook.com
2012-04-11

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