Wrong Again

I am frequently asked, "Bob, I want a Chardonnay that is oaky but not buttery and not expensive, what have you got?" I fumblishly reply that it doesn't exist, oak aging lends to butteryness. Well, guess who proved me wrong?

If you said a South African winery, you are correct. Jardin 2008 Chardonnay at $14.99 a bottle surprised the bleep out of me with its rich complex oak flavor in harmony with great acidity, minerality and all-around yummy flavors. I can see this wine being the lobster clambake wine for the summer of 2009, if the sun would ever come out this year in New England.

For you international folks, the Jardin label exists for the United States. In South Africa, the Jordan family owns the property, makes the wines and has no relation to the Jordan family of California, hence the name difference. The rest of the world sees the wine as Jordan Chardonnay of South Africa.

And a real clambake has chowdah, made with milk. State law in Massachusetts.