Dark wings, dark words.  In Game of Thrones (or A Song of Ice and Fire), it’s implied that if a message was important enough to be sent by crow, it was likely to be bad news.  While crows and ravens may be brilliant, and serve messenger duty, they’re also creepy when there’s a chill in the air.  Perhaps the most famous Raven is Edgar Allen Poe, a poem with such haunting atmosphere that it can put a chill in the air just by reading it.  To help put you in the halloween mood, here’s Christopher Lee reading it:

Sitting silently on the shelf like a Raven is Ravenswood Vintners Blend Chardonnay.  Is it worth drinking or, as the Raven might say, Nevermore.

Sight:  A gold-yellow blend with firmer edges.

Smell:  Vanilla, smoke, butter, and toast all waft out at the start, before pulling in smaller amounts of peach and golden apple.

Sip:  The body is full and round, with a more middling acidity.  There’s a ton of oak immediately present, giving out notes of vanilla, gunsmoke, tobacco leaf, and butter.  The round, soft texture here helps a bit, highlighting some of apple, peach, and orange notes that compliment the smokey nature.

Savor:  The ending is more of the smoke, with a bit of citrus and pome fruit.

Ravenswood Vintners Blend Chardonnay is a study in oak.  The sheer amount of oak here overwhelms most of the fruit, but leaves enough of it intact that it’s still drinkable.  Unoaked lovers are going to completely hate this though, with it’s vanilla, smoke, toast, and butter.  That said, if you like some oak in your wine, than Ravenswood Vintners Blend Chardonnay might be a nice way to pass a crisp fall night with a fire.

Verdict:  Vanilla, Smoke, Apple, Butter
Rating: 79
Price: $10
Acampo, California

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