Sofia Chardonnay 2012

2012sofiachardonnayThe 2012 Sofia Chardonnay is 75% Chardonnay and 25% Pinot Blanc (a White wine grape, it is a mutation of Pinot Noir) grown in vineyards in Monterey County (just north of Paso Robles), California. In California, a bottle of wine can be identified as a single varietal as long as at least 75% of the grapes in the bottle are that varietal. Frances Ford Coppola originated the Sofia line of wines in honor of his daughter, Sofia Coppola, maybe best known as the director of Lost in Translation with Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson. Other wines in the Sofia line include a Blanc de Blancs Sparkling wine, a Riesling and a Rose’. Most of this Chardonnay (80%) was fermented in stainless steel tanks and 20% was fermented in used French oak barrels. This Chard lists for $19 and the average price on the web is $16. The alcohol content is 12.5%.

The color is pale, glistening extra virgin olive oil yellow. The nose is lemon chiffon, green apple, Bosc pear, magnolia and honeydew melon, a little on the husky side for a Chardonnay. The mouthfeel is substantial and the flavor has some nice depth. It tastes of ripe, juicy apple, Del Monte pears (that is a good thing, it’s a taste I grew up with), lemon with a bit of lime and melon. The mid palate bring in a sweet touch of peach, dried pineapple and pink grapefruit. The acidity is well balanced and gives this Chardonnay some excellent length. The finish is full and long.

 Well, the first think I have to say about the 2012 Sofia Chardonnay is that it tastes great, the Pinot Blanc brings a unique element to this Chardonnay, this is not another Chardonnay variation on a theme. There are bright fruity flavors and husky mellow tastes all held together with solid structure and acidity. White wine drinkers could probably get away with pairing the Sofia with a cheeseburger, it is substantial enough, for a Chardonnay without much oak, to hold its own. But I would suggest that aspiring chefs taste the Sofia first and then see what dishes they are inspired to create. In a side note, the bottle is beautifully proportioned, it would enhance the table for a romantic dinner and would look at good on the table at an upscale BYOB.

See also  Whispering Valley Reserve Napa Valley Chardonnay 2010

 

 

this bottle was received as a sample

 

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Don’t tell anyone, but there is absolutely no correlation between the cost of wine and the quality of wine.

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