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Wine Tips |
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Can't Miss White: Unoaked Chardonnay |
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Chardonnay is currently the king of wines, the number one selling varietal in the world.
And for good reason: Chardonnay offers a stunning blend of strong fruit, complexity,
the punch of alcohol and the body to work with rich foods from lobster to shrimp scampi to
the fanciest fish dishes.
So why aren't we just recommending your run-of-the-mill Chardonnay as our can't miss white ?
It all come down to the use of oak barrels in aging a vast majority of Chardonnay. The
barrels impart the buttery, vanilla characteristics that many Chardonnays feature, and we
certainly won't deny that those wines are enjoyed by plenty of wine lovers.
But, too many winemakers have taken the oak barreling too far, producing Chardonnay that
would be right at home being poured over a tub of popcorn at the local movie theater.
This is not appealing to a lot of wine connoisseurs. And when you order a Chardonnay,
there's no telling how much of this butter and cream might be waiting inside that bottle.
Now, if you're ordering a Chardonnay that you've had before and it's not overly buttery,
that's a fairly safe bet.
Unoaked Chardonnay relies on the raw, natural fruitiness of the grape instead of hiding
behind the oak's effects. A newer phenomenon in Chardonnay, the unoaked variety is sometimes
tough to find, but more and more winemakers are embracing this style as it gains popularity.
Why are people embracing unoaked in droves? The wines are cleaner, more fruit-forward and
more expressive with the zest of the acidity really shining through. And that's why we've
designated unoaked Chardonnay as our can't miss white: do yourself a favor and go hunting
for a bottle the next time you're with a wine-loving group. You may never go back.
Here are some of our favorite Unoaked Chardonnay Producers:
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