Things have been red heavy this holiday season on First Pour Wine, so let’s give a little love to the whites. Hailing from Sonoma County, Valley Of The Moon Chardonnay has the right pedigree to deliver a full bodied, fruit and oak balanced chardonnay. Featuring a description of flavors including peach blossom, baked pear, and vanilla with citrus, it should add a solid choice for the holiday table, and a good pairing for dishes like turkey and crown pork roast. Does Valley Of The Moon Chardonnay 2012 deliver though?
Sight: Deep gold from core to edge
Smell: Very melon like to start, channeling honeydew and cantaloupe. A certain amount of vanilla and creaminess wafts up, suggesting a hint of malolactic acid. A hint of spiciness and baked pear joins into the mix with interesting notes of orange blossom and citrus. Notes of toasted oak and smoke are also present, contributing to a very complex nose.
Sip: Round and firm, there’s a subtle hint of brightness, but it gives quickly to a creamy, full body and smooth texture. This doesn’t mean the acidity completely fades, rather it holds a background note pleasantly, reminding you of the lively nature still remaining. Slightly spicy (with notes of clove and nutmeg), heavy in the vanilla department, and loaded with orange blossom / zest, there is a slight oak backbone here, but the fruit holds strong, giving a nice citrus pop mixed with melon and unripe pear.
Savor: The ending is round and vanilla laden with hints of orange blossom. The ending gets a little oaked and toasty, and hints bitter, but stays very creamy.
Valley Of The Moon Chardonnay is really creamy, and packed with a solid mixture of fruit and oak. The creamy malolactic texture is great along side the fresher orange flavors. As chardonnay goes, fans of oak are going to be particularly happy here, with smoke, toast, and vanilla. If you need something to stand up to a smokier meat, or want something to pair with strong cheese, Valley Of The Moon Chardonnay is going to be a fun choice.
Verdict: Vanilla, Orange Blossom, Melon, Creamy
Price: $12
Sonoma, California
Available at Wine.Com