HOW often do you hear people say "I'll have anything but Chardonnay"? The grape seems to have been demonised in recent years but what most people don't realise is that there is a huge variety of Chardonnay styles available, and there is a style out there to suit all palates. So go on...try a Chardonnay today!
Tesco Finest Chablis 2007 (£9.48, Tesco) Yes, all Chablis is in fact made from Chardonnay. This is classic Chablis, with apple and lemon fruit on the nose and palate and a steely note underpinning the wine. It is elegant and beautifully structured, a
nd with age it will continue to develop into a richer and creamier offering.
• Les Quatres Clochers Reserve Chardonnay 2006 (£7.35, Tesco) This is a seriously good wine from Southern France, and is not a Chardonnay for the fainthearted. It is a big and gutsy wine with delicious ripe apricot fruit, attractive acidity and a creamy taste. You can't get a better wine to go with your roast chicken.
• Yellow Tail Chardonnay 2007 (£5.99, Tesco) Branded Chardonnay has had a bad reputation but this wine shows how much the making of it has improved. The Chardonnay nose leaps from the glass and displays a lovely peachy vanilla and coconut aroma which follows on to the palate. It has a rich creamy toasted finish whilst being silky smooth and easy to drink.
Bargain of the WeekTesco Finest Piwen Chardonnay 2006 (was £7.99, down to £3.99 until September 9, Tesco) Rich and creamy on the nose, this Chilean wine shows how New World Chardonnay has developed from its over-oaked cloying days. A lovely fresh example with peach and fig fruit, delicate acidity and a creamy finish.
Bottle of the WeekMcWilliams Hanwood Estate Crisp Chardonnay 2007 (£6.99, Tesco). The freshest and most vibrant Aussie Chardonnay about. This wine has just a hint of Riesling in the blend to give freshness. The palate is intensely fruit driven, with similar stone fruits coming through.
The full article contains 345 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
