My frequent readers know I’m a big fan of California style chards. I enjoy the Inniskillin Three Vineyard chard as well as the J Lohr Riverstone chard.
I was walking out of the grocery store and they have a wine store. They were sampling this wine so after I tried it I bought one for a more in depth tasting. Slightly golden in color with a lovely nose of oak and vanilla. On the mid pallet this is a lovely smooth California style chard. Lots of vanilla, some butterscotch and just a hint of acidity. The finish is medium in length. This wine builds slightly in the mouth when drank without food. When enjoyed with a meal (we paired it with pan fried scallops) it takes more of a back seat to allow the meal to come through. This is a smooth elegant, gentle wine. I would give it an 89 or so. Only available at the winery or in their branded store. $18.95 so not a bad deal. It’s tough finding cheap, but good chards.
From the winery for their 2009 vintage:
Trius Chardonnay ‘Barrel Fermented’ has a beautiful bouquet of toasty oak, grilled pineapple, lemon and clove. Medium to full-bodied, this wine has a slightly rich mouth feel, and a wonderful splash of acidity that refreshes the palate. Flavors of lemon, hints of tart tropical fruit, toasty oak and spice gently caress the palate. The long lingering finish of spicy oak is perfectly balanced by refreshing lemon acidity.
Serve with roasted chicken; creamy pasta tossed with grilled chicken or shrimp; smoked gouda with water crackers. $18.95
