2021 Albamar Chardonnay – Quality Wine With A Unique Twist
This wine label from William Cole Winery in the Casablanca Valley, Chile is unique. What makes it stand out from other Chardonnays is its strong citrus profile. More on this later in the story. The Casablanca area is often referred to as “Chile’s Burgundy”. The cool climate vineyard near the cost provides a long growing season with cool evenings, producing wines that are crisp and clean. This is similar to the Central Coast and Russian River areas in California. The Albamar label denotes the foggy sunrise of the valley (“alba” means sunrise) and the cooling ocean breezes (mar meaning ocean). The cooling evenings allow the wines to have a solid acidity providing both freshness and brightness on the palate.
First on the eyes a light straw color and medium viscosity. But don’t be fooled, this is a powerhouse of a Chardonnay wine! The wine has beautiful floral qualities, followed with flavors of pear and peach. The crispness and mineral characteristics are more akin to a Sauvignon Blanc than a Chardonnay, yet the floral and fruit is more aligned with a Chardonnay. Thus the unique and great quality of this wine! So refreshing this late afternoon with a smoked honey roasted salmon, topped with cream cheese, diced purple onion, capers and a freshly baked baguette. The perfect treat on a warm summer day.
An extremely worthy and relatively inexpensive wine to be enjoyed this summer and perhaps anytime of the year!
Sláinte,
Michael
California Wines & Wineries 