Wine of the Week: A Charming Californian

I have to admit, I haven't been a big fan of the California Chardonnay wines. Too often they have been so oaky and "big" that I just can't drink more than a few sips and then it’s just too much. But lately I have been proven wrong again and again by great quality wines from the west coast of the USA. And this week’s wine is one of the finest.

​A problem with California is that it is so far away and it costs a lot to get the wine over to Norway. This adds to the price of the wine. So often the price of a good California wine cost’s the same as a Burgundy wine. To often this is an unfair comparison. But the wines from Sandhi Wines have proven to be an equal match to the famed French ones. 

This weeks wine comes from Santa Barbara County and the sites in Sta. Rita Hills, Santa Maria and Santa Ynez appellations. Old vines, most over 30 years, gives the wines good intensity and at only 239,90 kroner this is a great and affordable introduction to the wines from Sandhi. 

Tasting notes:

Sandhi Santa Barbara Chardonnay 2016​ - 239,90 kr
​
Very fresh. A great minerality strikes me at first, something I often find lacking in California wines. Pretty aromas of citrus fruits and white flowers with a hint of toasty oak, but only a hint. Very good structure in the mouth that comes from the nice acid. Some very pleasing nutty flavours as well which only enhances the drinking experience. Very drinkable by it self but this will also work fine with food. Maybe an option to the great Macon Chardonnays with flat fish?

---