Whom You Know: Champagne Wishes: CELLAR NO. 8 2009 California Chardonnay Highly Recommended by Whom You Know

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Champagne Wishes: CELLAR NO. 8 2009 California Chardonnay Highly Recommended by Whom You Know

Cool, creamy, and invigorating, the Cellar No. 8 2009 Chardonnay is a fantastic wine for the dog days of summer. The nose is full of lush, tropical, fruity aromas including pineapple and white peach. The scent itself is intoxicating, and, if you close your eyes, it can transport you to a sandy beach with palm trees blowing in the breeze and easy waves rolling into the shore. After I poured my first glass, I took a few minutes to just enjoy the scent, and allow it to was over me. It was heavenly! As I took my first sip and let it roll around my mouth, I was pleasantly surprised by the clean, crisp citrus flavors on the palate. The citrus is balanced by a hint of oak, but the oak, thankfully, is not too overpowering! The mouthfeel is creamy and luxurious. The finish is bright and acidic, yet remarkably smooth. The wine is incredibly easy-drinking, and can be enjoyed on its own or with any kind of light summer fare. Because of the tropical flare, it would definitely lend itself well to any kind of beach party, too! As for me, I paired it with fruit, cheese, and flatbread, and found the combination immensely satisfying. No matter how you choose to enjoy it, though, one thing is for sure: you'll be delighted that you decided to try it!

I am a white wine snob. I admit it. I typically HATE California Chardonnay. Too much oak for me. Well then you can imagine my surprise when I was recently introduced to Cellar No. 8's 2009 Chardonnay. Honestly, I was bowled over by this great Chardonnay! There was none of that overactive flavor. Much to the contrary it was the fabulous butter undertones that converted me. Don't get me wrong - this Chardonnay has oak but it is in complete harmony with the complete bouquet. I paired it with a rich spaghetti carbonara (heavy on the Parmesan Reggiano) and it was fantastic! I highly suggest any other non-Chardonnay drinkers like myself give this one a try. You will not be disappointed. Ok, seriously...try it!

With heat wave after heat wave this summer, everyone is looking for something to cool themselves down and quench their thirst. The 2009 California Chardonnay by Cellar No. 8 is the perfect drink for the job! First, the wine's golden color is extremely appealing to the eye. The wine smells of tropical fruit and caramel. Just the sight and aroma of this wine make it so enticing! The palate is made up of lemon and apple flavors, and it has a very creamy texture. It's so delicious, I couldn't stop with just one glass! This wine would be great served chilled outside at a summer barbecue. It would also taste great with seafood. Of course, drinking it all on its own would be just as good too! Keep cool and relaxed this summer with a bottle of Cellar No. 8 Chardonnay. It's a great way to beat the heat and treat your tastebuds!

Is there anything better than a perfectly chilled glass of white wine on a hot summer evening? No, there really isn't! Cellar No. 8's Chardonnay is the perfect ending to any day. Hailing from California (specifically from Santa Barbara County), this Chardonnay is delightful. With tropical fruit aromas of pineapple and white peach and citrus flavors of lemon peel and apple, this is one tasty wine! The fruitiness is perfectly balanced by oak making for a full, rich Chardonnay. Although the 2009 growing season started out quite dry, the end product ended up just right! Spring rains, warm summer days and cool summer nights allowed for a vineyard that flourished. Harvest lasted from mid-August to early November. This long vintage allowed for fully ripened fruit and rich, full flavors. I enjoyed my glass of this Chardonnay on its own after putting my four year old to bed. What a lovely way to end my evening. This is a fabulous wine for anytime, but especially for a summer evening. Cheers!

HISTORY

In 1881 Andrea Sbarboro founded the Asti Winery in northern Sonoma County. Applying time-honored methods and expertise from the old country, Sbarboro and a group of Italian immigrants, formed an entire community around which winemaking was its soul. Today, Cellar No. 8 wines honor and reflect the tradition of winemaking at Asti in a series of rich, complex wines from carefully chosen vineyard sites in California.

VINTAGE & VINEYARDS

The 2009 growing season started dry, but with healthy spring rains, the vineyards flourished. Summer brought warm days and cool evenings, perfect for consistent ripening, while maintaining acidity within the grapes. Harvest began in mid-August and wrapped up in early November. This long vintage allowed the fruit to ripen fully with concentrated varietal fruit flavors. Overall, the 2009 vintage yielded wines of excellent quality.

Chardonnay from the California Coast, primarily Santa Barbara County, was the backbone for this wine, resulting in a classic California Chardonnay with juicy tropical fruit flavors and refreshing acidity.

TASTING NOTES

Lush and juicy, this Chardonnay exhibits lifted tropical fruit aromas of pineapple and sweet white peach. Clean citrus flavors of lemon peel and green apple dominate the palate, balanced by a hint of well-integrated, seasoned oak. The influence of malolactic fermentation (77%) lends a creamy texture to the mouthfeel. The wine finishes with a refreshing acidity.

Alcohol: 13.8%

Blend: 94% Chardonnay

3% Sauvignon Blanc

3% Semillon

Harvest: August 12th – November 3rd, 2009

Acidity: 0.63 g/100ml

pH: 3.45

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