Welcome to Second Ferment! Wine pairs well with life ... and food, travel, people, work and play. Grab a glass and join me as I explore the wine scene in Ottawa, Canada, and beyond. Love hearing from my readers, so please leave a comment. Cheers! - Bethany

Sunday, May 04, 2008

Quaff this: Daniel Lenko 2005 Unoaked Chardonnay

We cracked this one open tonight, one of our prized Daniel Lenkos, and as usual, we weren't disappointed. This is part of the Lenko Premium Taster Pack, a superb value set of six of his best wines in one box, delivered to your door, or available at the winery (read my review of the '05 Viognier).

This is an ideal Chardonnay for those of us who don't like the taste of burnt barrel wood in our wines. Fermented in steel tanks, unoaked Chards have more in common with sauvignon blancs and rieslings: this one has lots of floral notes, which became more pronounced as it warmed up. Apple, tropical fruit and butterscotch on the palate, without all the heavy wood typical of Chard. It became more complex as it warmed up. (I had to put the Doodle to bed before my glass was empty; I was pleased to find a delightful, spiciness to it when I got back.) Acid could stand to be a bit more pronounced, and there's something slightly off about the finish, but overall, it's a solid wine, best paired with food rather than sipped solo. We had it with breaded sole fillets and creamed spinach - the butterscotch flavours really brought out the nutmeg in the cream sauce.

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