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750ml
Bottle:
$27.90
12 bottles:
$27.34
The 2016 Zinfandel Monte Rosso Vineyard is medium garnet-purple in color and opens with notions of raspberry tart,...
750ml
Bottle:
$40.08
12 bottles:
$39.28
A honeycomb sweetness with a hint of oaky caramel leads in this stylish white. It’s broad and ripe, but the apple...
1.5Ltr
Bottle:
$182.20
3 bottles:
$179.20
Montelena's 2016 Chardonnay is terrific. Fresh, nuanced and light on its feet, the 2016 is striking for its freshness...
750ml
Bottle:
$93.94
Montelena's 2016 Chardonnay is terrific. Fresh, nuanced and light on its feet, the 2016 is striking for its freshness...
750ml
Bottle:
$36.96
6 bottles:
$36.22
Aromatically this wine shows deeply concentrated flavors of lemongrass, citrus peel, and faint honey notes, with a...
750ml
Bottle:
$33.06
$34.80
12 bottles:
$30.40
This has cleverly curated aromas of peach and grapefruit with flinty, winemaking complexity and hazelnut-like oak...
750ml
Bottle:
$72.79
6 bottles:
$72.00
The barrique-aged Cantina Tramin 2016 Alto Adige Chardonnay Riserva Troy is a real beauty. This wine will appeal to...
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$212.95
Pre-Arrival
Arnaud Ente Bourgogne Chardonnay 2016
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$277.95
A touch of matchstick character blends with notes of pear, apple and lemon peel. The supple, vibrant and utterly...
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$195.48
Bright medium yellow. Deep scents of apricot, very ripe peach, hazelnut and nutmeg; distinctly yellow in its fruit...
![Ballot Millot Meursault Les Narvaux [Lieu-Dit] 2016 750ml](https://www.saratogawine.com/files/images/cached_thumbs/98/98cf6454f5a87eb654ea864775d7d9c0.jpg){kind=small}
Chardonnay Mezcal Zinfandel
Of all the white wine grape varietals, surely the one which has spread the furthest and is most widely appreciated is the Chardonnay. This green skinned grape is now grown all over the Old and New Worlds, from New Zealand to the Americas, from England to Chile, and is one of the first varietals people think of when considering white wine grapes. Perhaps this is because of its huge popularity which reached a peak in the 1990s, thanks to new technologies combining with traditional methods to bring the very best features out of the Chardonnay grape, and allow its unique qualities to shine through. Most fine Chardonnay wines use a process known as malolactic fermentation, wherein the malic acids in the grape juice are converted to lactic acids, allowing a creamier, buttery nature to come forward in the wine. No grape varietal is better suited to this process than Chardonnay, which manages to balance these silky, creamy notes with fresh white fruit flavors beautifully.
Although commonly confused with Tequila, Mexico’s other signature spirit, Mezcal, has its own set of unique characteristics which set it apart. Mezcal is made from the agave plant, although not the blue agave most commonly associated with Tequila production. This drink hails from the arid southern Mexican region of Oaxaca, where it has been made for generations according to traditional recipes and methods, and continues to be extremely popular worldwide today.
One of the defining features of quality Mezcal is its pungent smokiness, a heady aroma which reminds us of campfires and desert nights. This comes from the fact that the pinas (the fruit body) of the agave used in its production are slow cooked in wood fired ovens, before being distilled into a spirit. Mezcal is traditionally bottled with a worm - why? Nobody really seems to know for sure, but this unique drink continues to attract attention and convert new fans thanks to its authenticity, unique flavor and supposed health benefits. It is split into the same categories as Tequila; blanco, reposado and anejo, and although it is often used as a mixer in cocktails, it is best enjoyed straight and uncomplicated, allowing its beautiful and subtle characteristics to shine.
The precise origins of what became known as the Zinfandel grape variety are uncertain, although it has clear genetic equivalents in both Puglia and Croatia. However, when it was brought to the New World in the mid 19th century, it became known as the Zinfandel, and has been consistently popular and widely grown ever since. These very dark and very round grapes have a remarkably high sugar content, resulting in relatively high levels of alcohol in the wines they are made into, with bottles often displaying as much as fifteen percent. What makes the Zinfandel such an interesting grape, though, is the fact that the flavors produced by this varietal vary considerably depending on the climate they are grown in. In cooler valley regions, the Zinfandel grapes result in wines which hold strong flavors of tart and sweet fruits; raspberry, redcurrant and sweet cherry, held in a very smooth and silky liquid. Conversely, warmer regions result in more complex and spicy notes, including anise, pepper and hedgerow berries.