Robert Mondavi (USA) Woodbridge Chardonnay 2003
When the Robert Mondavi company was sold to industry wine and spirits giant Constellation Brands just about a year ago, the new owners set about ‘re-engineering’ some of the most popular Mondavi wines, including one of their popular brands, Woodbridge. Now, a full range of Woodbridge wines is back on UK shelves, including this oak-influenced Chardonnay. I have to say this is an exemplary Californian Chardonnay, filled with burstingly ripe, pineapple and orange fruit on the nose, all licked by a smoky, toasty layering of oak, that sits nicely beneath the fruit. On the palate those tropical, superripe flavours continue, and there is a certain sweetness, but the medium-body and rush of racy lemon and lime acidity cuts through the fat, giving this an extended, juicy mid-palate, before the vanilla and spice of the wood bolsters the finish. 6.49, and widely available, including Asda, Sainsbury’s, Somerfield, Tesco and Waitrose.
