Van Ruiten Vineyards 2008 Chardonnay

This week I decided I'd try a white wine. I've noticed that I have been drinking a lot of red and I needed to switch it up. It also didn't hurt that I had just received a shipment from one of my wine clubs (Gold Medal Wine Club), that contained a white wine.

Van Ruiten Vineyard 2008 Chardonnay

What is a Chardonnay? In general, Chardonnay produces wines which are dry to medium dry with pear, apple, tropical or citrus fruit flavors. When little to no oak aging occurs, Chardonnay tends to be more crisp and fresh. With extensive oak aging, they become creamy and buttery with vanilla, spice and oak flowers. It is the world's most popular white wine grape and it is grown in virtually every wine-producing region.

I read another review of this wine:
Lush and round on the palate, the Van Ruiten 2008 "Double Barrel" Reserve Chardonnay displays intense fruit and spicy oak aromas with notes of creamy lemon bar, apple, papaya, and hazelnut. While the finish is long and clean, the flavors become increasingly full and complex with time. Bright acidity and nice tannins give a wonderful balance to the Chardonnay and allows for a multitude of food pairings. Try pairing the Van Ruiten 2008 Reserve Chardonnay with fettuccine or chicken with cream butter sauces.

My thoughts- I wasn't sure what to expect. I decided I'd open the bottle and have a glass with some leftover Chinese food, Sweet and Sour shrimp. Since it was a pretty sweet meal to begin with I thought I'd have a few sips while my plate warmed in the microwave. I was worried that the sweetness of the sweet and sour sauce would wash out the wine. My first sip, really shocked me. I found it crisp, smooth, juicy and not too sweet at all. The flavor held up, even with the sugary sauce. I probably would not drink it again with this type of meal, but the wine still held it's own. To be certain about the wine I tried it again the next evening (that's a valid excuse). ;-) It was just as fantastic as I thought. I would definitely buy this to keep around when friends stop by. A perfect, light, easy wine for drinking with friends!

The Imperfect Palate

Since I've started this blogging adventure I've been reading many wine reviews. I have to be honest here, a lot of them leave me confused. That is one of the reasons I began this blog, my total confusion when I read reviews. Knowing that a wine smells like cola, dirt and menthol...does not make me want to drink it. Yet wine reviewers are able to make these things sound appeasing. Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking wine reviewers or claiming they don't know what they are saying, just the opposite. I'm in awe of them and this skill or ability that I lack.
Many reviewers are considered to have a "perfect palate". This unique ability to taste things that most of us can't. That makes me wonder...am I tasting the same thing they are? When I drink a glass of Pinot Noir, does it taste the same to them? Am I just lacking the ability to discern the exact fruit a particular wine reminds me of, do I lack the knowledge to notice the currant or the hint of allspice? Is this skill developed over time or are you born with the ability to distinguish these things?

I wonder, if I invited the top wine reviewers and their awesome palates over and had a line up of various glasses of another liquid, say milk...what would happen? Would they take a sip, swirl it around and spit it out then tell me this came from a cow raised on fescue with hints of Kentucky bluegrass? Would they be able to determine that I mixed the whole with skim and a little 2%, with a dusting of pepper?
The perfectness of a palate makes me wonder what happened to mine. Was it ruined when I burned it as a child on hot chocolate that was too hot? The summers spent drinking sodas and fruit juices, did that harm my palate. Did it happen later in life, while drinking cheap beer and arbor mist? Or did I ever have a chance? Did my genetics ruin me and my ability to decipher all the many nuances in a glass of wine??

Who knows... What I do like when I read reviews of wines is how most end saying to use their review as a guide. The only way to determine if you like a particular wine is to try it. With my imperfect palate and all, I have no problem doing that! Cheers!!

Interesting Reads:

• Why are tasting notes so bad?

Two Vines

Today I decided to try something different. After reading a review, I decided to pick up 2009 Two Vines Cabernet Sauvignon. The bottle says:

"Our Cabernet Sauvignon features aromas of strawberry, cherry and cola while identical flavors give way to a silky, soft palate that culminates into a long velvety finish."

I'll be honest, when I purchased this I didn't know what a Cabernet Sauvignon was. I decided to do a little research before I opened the bottle (please see CAB SAV). So with a little knowlegde I popped open the cork, pour a glass and took a sip. Three glasses later, I have to say I'm a fan. Two thumbs way up. I've never had expensive Cabernet, but if it gets better with price, I can't wait to try it. This was absolutely delish. Even my drinking partner, who so far has not liked much of anything, liked this.

So why do I like it...what makes it yummy? I found it sweet, but not overpowering or sugary. It has a soft, smooth flavor, that lasts. That velvety finish from the bottle, yup I got it and loved every sip of it. One of the first times I was disappointed when my glass was empty. Definitely will buy again and will keep on hand. Actually, next time I head to the wine store, I'm going to grab at least two bottles. One to drink that night and another to keep on hand for that crazy, stressful day. Please try and let me know your thoughts.