The Shortbread Buttery Chardonnay 2023 is a wine I discovered at a local wine shop, priced at $11.99. This was a brand from Wine Hooligans, which would sell the controlling interest in their company to Bronco Wines.
The Story
This Chardonnay is sourced from coastal vineyards in both the Central and North Coast AVAs.
The butter flavor in wine comes from how they toast the inside of the wine barrel, differnet degrees of flame bring out separate flavors.
The Chardonnay was aged “on” 40% French oak and 60% American oak, with 20% of the oak new and the rest used before. I never know what ‘aged on oak means; does it not mean not in a barrel but an additional method?
The Shortbread Buttery Chardonnay 2023 underwent full malolactic fermentation. This is a process that occurs in almost all Red wines and in White wines where oak is used.
It turns the natural acid in the grapes to a more rounded tasting acid that better complements the oak flavors.
The alcohol content is 14.3%.
The Shortbread Buttery Chardonnay 2023 Tasting Notes
The color is a shiny, golden yellow. The nose is melon, stone fruit, butter, a hint of petrol, apple, and tropical fruit. The Shortbread Buttery Chardonnay 2023 does have some butter flavor, but it is light and not overbearing.
This Chardonnay tastes like a blend of apple, lemon, and butterscotch, along with Anjou pear, tropical fruit, and coconut milk.
This is a sipping wine; it may be hard to balance the flavors with a meal.
The acidity is nicely balanced.
The Summary
- The Shortbread Buttery Chardonnay 2023 is a fun wine to drink; the flavor profile has you trying to identify all that is in your glass.
- As for pairing, it would work with fancy salads that will blend well with these flavors or maybe spicy Thai food.
