The Bucamel Blanco Chardonnay 2013 is sourced from a Bodegas Tierras de Orgaz vineyard located on a hillside outside the town of Los Yebens in the Castilla-La Mancha region of Spain. This Chardonnay is designated a Vinos de la Tierra de Castilla wine, which is like IGT wines from Italy and Vin de Pays wines from France. The wine possesses the characteristics of wines of the region, but didn’t conform to all the Castilla-La Mancha DO rules. This Chardonnay was both fermented and aged is French oak barrels and was also aged on lees. Aging on lees means that the dead yeast and grape residue are left in the barrel and they can impart a creamy, nutty flavor. The alcohol content is 13%.
The color is golden-yellow. The nose is both citrus and floral. The Bucamel Blanco has a nice balance of smooth and tart flavors. For a Chardonnay that was both aged and fermented in oak barrels, the oak impact is fairly mild. The wine starts off with creamy lemon chiffon and then the tart kicks in, grapefruit and lime. There is a solid amount of acidity, this is a food wine, but it also sips well. The finish is full and lengthy.
The Bucamel Blanco Chardonnay 2013 is a lean and balanced Spanish take on Chardonnay. It has the body to stand up to spicy foods and the balance to do well with fancy salads and seafood. And, it just might be an oaked Chardonnay that folks who don’t like oaked Chardonnay can enjoy. The lemon chiffon and citrus flavor profile is quite tasty.
