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THE FLAVOR
If you are looking for a truly elegant and classic chardonnay, pop the cork on this bottle and find your treasure. Rich and creamy aromas of yellow apples and vanilla fill the glass and nose, and get the taste buds kicking for the first sip. The flavors come in waves with ripe lemon and baked sweet yellow apple, all balanced with honey and smoky vanilla bean notes. The finish has honeysuckle and slight hints of banana cream. This wine tastes like it could cost more than $50, and would stand up to some of the finest chardonnays on the market.
FOOD PAIRINGS
With the market in the tank last week, we had what we felt was our last meal of excess anytime soon. We found some lobster tails in the freezer and steamed them off with drawn butter, served with asparagus and roasted potatoes. The creaminess of the lobster and butter paired perfectly with the baked apple and cream flavors in the wine, while the acidity and freshness of the vegetables and potatoes went well with the crisper flavors in each sip. You also could enjoy the wine with shrimp or fish, grilled or broiled. Have some fun but keep the meal clean -- heavy sauce would dim the shine of the wine.
BEHIND THE SCENES
This winery has been making some exceptional wines for more than 30 years. The Robert Young vineyard is located in northern Alexander Valley, nestled in Sonoma, Calif. This vineyard is one of the finest in Sonoma with many other vineyards all over the world using cuttings from it to produce chardonnays. Margo Van Staaveren, who has been with the winery for more than 25 years, is only the fourth winemaker at Chateau
St. Jean. A cornerstone of her winemaking philosophy is the art of blending -- creating a style of wine or a signature blend that is similar year after year, all the while letting the uniqueness of the vintage play a part in the final blend.
Lain Bradford of Beaufort is a wine writer and reviewer who has achieved his first level master sommelier certificate and is working toward his Certified Wine Educator degree. He only writes about wines that are available in South Carolina and Georgia.
