2022 Raeburn Sonoma County Chardonnay – Perfect Warm Weather Chardonnay
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The Winery
Photo ©Michael Kelly
A friend recommended I try a reasonably priced Chardonnay that he felt was a solid everyday wine. That wine is Raeburn Wines with the winery inspired by Phyllis Benham. Derek Benham founded the winery in 2014 paying homage to Phyllis. Phyllis, an avid outdoors person, always focusing on bird watching conservation. Those two traits are the essential core of Raeburn. Her legendary bird watching inspired the Raeburn label of the egret which was heading towards extinction in the 1990’s. Human intervention and care can change the course and assist in the preservation of nature.
Photo from Raeburn’s Facebook page
For their wine making, Derek tries to appreciate nature’s gifts and to leave well enough alone when selecting the grapes. Their goal is rather than engineer the winemaking process in Derek’s words “guide the grapes towards the best version of themselves”. That motif coincides with the Old English word Raeburn meaning “the river where one drinks”. While drinking at the river one is to observe and appreciate nature’s surroundings.
Today Raeburn Winery produces Rose, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, High Flier Pinot Noir, their Sonoma County Chardonnay and High Flier Chardonnay.
The Wine – “Wine is bottled Poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The 2022 Sonoma County Chardonnay acknowledges a classic California Chardonnay. It was rated 90 points by Wine Enthusiast and 91 points by James Suckling. The wine is available at various retail outlets and shows a list price of $22.99. However, several large wine retailers and shops significantly discount the price to the $15-16 range making this an ideal “everyday Chardonnay”!
First on the eyes a light golden and energetic wine in the glass with a medium viscosity. On the nose, with aromas of pear being dominate with intensity. On the palate, the wine shines with complexity of minerality, brioche and almond. On the finish a heavy and mouth filling wine delights the culmination of the partaking of this wine. Structured and with slight oak tones but not over the top oak flavors. This balanced with a creaminess and slight vanilla provides a delicious Chardonnay. This wine comes in at 14% alcohol.
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This wine was chosen to go with this evening dinner of baked Swiss cheese chicken and a twice baked potato. A fresh chopped salad, not shown, also accompanied the meal. The food pairing was spot on bringing forth the wine characteristics without engulfing the wine.
Going forward will need to taste Raeburn’s Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Sláinte,
Michael
October 12, 2024 at 2:26 am
Hello Michael,Here