Chardonnay 2006 Appearance Clear and bright with a medium-pale gold hue. Nose A nose of subtlety and elegance, displaying fresh apple and white peach aromas with supporting creamy yeast lees nuances with just a hint of oak-derived spice completing the total bouquet. Palate Medium-light in weight with balanced fresh acidity, there are apple, white peach and fig flavours supported by almond and yeast lees complexity on the palate. A touch of French oak influence contributes to the texture and complexity of the wine rather than overt flavour. A Chablis style of Chardonnay, with its lean structure and balanced acidity, this classically cool-climate wine is a modern style without the weight and oaky predominance of bygone eras. Cellaring Balanced acidity and good fruit flavours are the essential requirements for maturation and this wine possesses both. The wine will evolve with further honeyed and nutty characters and can be cellared confidently in good conditions until at least 2008, remembering that the appreciation of the maturation characters of wine is a purely subjective issue. Partnering Food This wine’s flavours and weight are in the elegant rather than obvious spectrum which makes it a good partner to light to medium-weight cuisine. Simply prepared seafood and shellfish would be ideal, particularly poached or fried. Vegetable dishes such as terrines or mushroom risotto would also match well with this Chardonnay. The variety - Chardonnay The great white grape of Burgundy and the only permitted white grape in Champagne, Chardonnay became the fashion variety during the nineties and still remains at the top of the quality scale in terms of complexity and length. It combines beautifully with oak maturation and is capable of lengthy bottle ageing when the wine is good enough. Apples, citrus, melon and tropical flavours typify the variety with further honey and butter flavours developing with age. Cool climate wines tend to have more mineral and flinty acid structures while warmer climate wines are fuller and richer in character.
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White Wines 
