She will warm, soothe, and energize you. On really cold days, do you alternate between trying to literally hibernate and shivering so hard your muscles are hard as rocks? Your body either shutting down or going into warm-you-up-survival action? I’m not suggesting alcohol as a solution, but I’m saying this particular Chardonnay will mentally and physically get your mind humming and your body moving. No matter the temperature.
Geez I love Chardonnay. And winter is time for the more…oh, blowsy examples. Set your Chablis aside for summer and crack open the full, the rich, the oaked and malo…lacticed (?) of Chards. Bring on your Russian River Chard, where decadent is the name of the game. Fortunately, these days decadent Chard doesn’t equal a butter bomb. More like a butterscotch-glossed grenade. Potent and explosive but polite.
This darling is my latest:
I truly loved this 2021 Rodney Strong Reserve Russian River Chardonnay, a golden child in appearance and a goodie-two-shoes in taste, too, sucking up to all my love of lemon-zested apple compote, lemon meringue pie (the buttery crust, the toasted meringue, the lemon custard–all of it), a hint of vanilla lurking in the background. The palate is almost resinous; this is a full-bodied Chardonnay with an appropriate lick of acid buzzing underneath. A refreshing, almost herbal note kicks up to underscore all the flavors the nose provides, ending with that Werther’s/honey/lemondrop joy. Into this.
Get yourself a nice Chard and goooooo!