29 Apr Solid California Chardonnay – Cambria 2018 Katherine’s Vineyard
When evaluating wine, I regularly
seek out “the people’s” opinions.
What do everyday consumers think
about a particular bottle?
I recently came across a comment
about a popular supermarket Chardonnay
that made me laugh.
The consumer stated,
“If you’re not expecting Montrachet,
it’s a lovely wine.”
It’s Wine Thursday!, our weekly
good-wine-at-a-good-price-
that-you-can-find review.
This week, we’re checking out
a Chardonnay that is no Montrachet
but is a solid buy.
Montrachet is a sub-region in Burgundy
where they produce what many
consider to be the greatest
white wine in the world…
the “ultimate expression” of Chardonnay.
A passable version of Montrachet
costs $100.
As quality (and reputation) goes up,
the price of a bottle of Montrachet
skyrockets into the thousands.
Montrachet.
Maybe someday.
In the meantime, at less than 20 bucks,
Cambria 2018 Katherine’s Vineyard Chardonnay
is an approachable alternative.
Produced in the Santa Maria Valley
north of Santa Barbara, this is a
medium-body wine that has pleasant fruit flavors
of peach and apple with a hint of spice
on the finish. There’s also a light layer of oak
that blends well with the minerality and acidity.
This Chardonnay would pair well with shellfish,
grilled chicken and sun-dried tomatoes.
We found Cambria 2018 Katherine’s Vineyard
at Empire Wine.com for $13.95
Total Wine lists it for $14.97.
It’s on the shelf at Fred Meyer and QFC for $15.99.
You can order it from Wine.com for $16.99
And K&L Wine Merchants have it at $17.95