Casablanca (Chile) Santa Isabel Chardonnay 1998
Always a big favourite amongst moderately priced New World Chardonnays, the Casablanca comes from a region of that name in Chile which is coastal and generally cool, and therefore suited best to cool-climate varieties like Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. Eighty percent of this wine is cool fermented in stainless steel, the remaining 20% is aged in small oak barrels on its lees. This results in a pale golden wine with very fresh aromatics of lemon, melon and pear with a subtle layering of creamy oak beneath and restrained and cool nuances of sweeter pineapple fruit. On the palate the fresh and creamy texture defies its hefty 13.5% of alcohol with clean, slightly honeyed pear and apple flavours, good citrus acidity and a long, pure finish. A lovely, balanced wine. UK Stockist: Oddbins 6.99
