This post has been brought to you by Red Car Wine Co. All opinions expressed are my own. The following message is intended for those 21+. Please enjoy responsibly.
Today we're reviewing a 2015 Chardonnay courtesy of Red Car Wine Co. This review was made possible by our new friends over at Red Car Wine Co- but more on them in just a minute.
The Where - Sonoma Coast, California
California is, far and away, the single most important, profitable, and prolific wine region in all of the Americas, and Sonoma County, in turn, is - arguably - the single most important vinicultural area within California. Sonoma County itself is divided into the sub-regions of Northern Sonoma, Sonoma Valley, and the Sonoma Coast, with each of these areas having its own AVA title and sub-AVAs (American Vinicultural Area).
A relative newcomer to the vinicultural scene, even by New World standards, the Sonoma Coast AVA was only created in 1987, and it is notable in that much of the area covered by this AVA is not actually 'coastal.' In fact, the easternmost boundaries of this AVA run nearly thirty miles inland, with its central bulge stretching all the way to Healdsburg, following the Russian River up to Alexander Valley, whilst its southeastern reaches encompass the Petaluma Gap.
Being a 'mostly' maritime climate, the Sonoma Coast is noticeably cooler and damper than most of its other Californian counterparts, while the areas bordering the Pacific are foggy in the extreme. These attributes have led to varietals such as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay comprising the large majority of the grapes grown in the AVA, accounting for around seventy to eighty percent of all grapes in the region. However, praiseworthy incarnations of Syrah and Zinfandel also make an appearance.
The Bottle - A Showcase
Today we're reviewing a 2015 Chardonnay, courtesy of Red Car Wine Co.
The Review - The Aromatics and Tasting
The 2015 Chardonnay introduces itself with acidic notes of grapefruit and lime off the top of the glass, while faint notes of crisp green apple and citrus linger quietly in the background. On the palate, the wine is quite citrusy, with undertones of butter and oak laced throughout, ending on a lasting and creamy finish, with just a hint of caramel. These attributes combine to create a pleasantly complex drinking experience.
What To Eat - The Pairing
With this bottle, I instantly thought of three things: polenta, herbed grilled chicken, and white-bodied fish. The ideal pairing, in my mind, would be something like my lemon chicken served over a bed of polenta prepared with artichoke hearts and blistered tomatoes. You might also consider something like pork loin chops stuffed with a filling of cream cheese, sundried tomatoes, honey, and sage.
Have you tried it? Have you tried today's wine, or prepared today's recipe? If so, we would love to hear from you! Give us a shout out on Instagram or Facebook with a picture of what you prepared, or let us know down below in the comments how it turned out! We can't wait to hear from you!
ESHR PRKR says
Excellent review again! I'm not much of a wine drinker but you've been giving me posts that have slowly been convincing I ought to give something a try.
Catherine Pappas says
Thank you for visiting and for the kind words. Have a beautiful day!!
Lisa says
This is my kind of place to visit! Everything from the location to the food and wine is calling me here!
Catherine Pappas says
This is my kind of place too! Thank you for visiting. Have a beautiful day!!
Monidipa says
I always love to read about the history of wines. And this wine really looks lovely. I would love to try it...
Catherine Pappas says
I like the history of wine too. Thank you for visiting. Have a beautiful day!
Cherry says
Wow I love this post! I love wine. The taste, smell, history and the different history of wineries. Beautiful post.
Catherine Pappas says
Thank you and thank you for visiting. Have a beautiful day!
Ashlee says
You had me at wine! I love wine so much and I enjoyed the review of the Red Car Wine Chardonnay. It made me imagine myself sipping it as I float away in a pool.
Catherine Pappas says
Oh, those are happy thoughts!! Thank you for visiting and have a beautiful day!!
Marta Skeledžija says
Your blog is amazing. So much to learn about wine. Nice glass of wine and a good book is all I need in the evening.
Catherine Pappas says
Sounds like a plan!!! Thank you for the kind words and visiting. xo
Kristine Nicole Alessandra says
I had a very stressful day today and I could use a good bottle of wine! I will check online if I can get this brand. It would be nice if I could have a glass like right now. Thanks for your honest review.
Catherine Pappas says
Thank you for visiting Kristine. You are very welcome. I hope that your days have gotten less stressful. It is difficult to navigate through these days without feeling stress. xoxo
Sam says
VinoPal sounds great! I think my mom would really like it. I also think she'd really like this wine. I'll have to tell her about it.
Catherine Pappas says
Thank you for visiting Sam. Have a great day!
Jordan Campbell says
Ooh, I could go for a nice glass of wine right now. I JUST started getting into wines. I was always a beer drinker. I'm thinking I'm all about the whites over the reds, though I did used to drink red when i did have wine. (I get migraines and the reds make me suffer too much, I think!)
Catherine Pappas says
There is such a nice variety of whites to choose from too. Have a great day!
Cristina Petrini says
What I love about a wine is not only, of course, the aroma and taste, but also its history and the land of origin.
Catherine Pappas says
There really is so much to learn and it is very interesting. Have a great day!