For practical reasons, we gravitate to the lighter side of things during the summer whether it's shoes or wine. I'll leave the shoe talk for Esquire and Vogue, but I want to reintroduce the fantastic 2009 Antica Chardonnay (94 Points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate) to you.
This Napa, California gem gives much hope to those who think they may not/do not like California Chardonnay (or anything white for that matter). I am a full on red kind of guy, but whites this good are to be appreciated and enjoyed as well, and there is a lot of both to go around. It's light in the sense that it's perfect for summer. This very well may be the bottle of white that can turn you!
Earthy characteristics are in here for sure. There is mineral overtone that you don't often find in a California Chardonnay. It could even be considered more like a White Burgundy due to this aspect. There is no butter and nothing (especially acid and oak) in overabundance. It's all very balanced, smooth and quite crisp. Clean comes to mind. This is low yield wine?only 4,000 cases were made for the entire world. This is no factory wine!
The 2009 Antica Chardonnay will pair perfectly with your summer clambake! Also, chicken, turkey, and pork will pair nicely with it. It's drinking now - 2017.
Antica, which is short for Antinori California, is a twenty-six generation operation, and the Antinori family is very passionate and serious about their winemaking. Being a third generation company, we at Sokolin love the passion behind keeping it in the family, and the product derived from that passion. Winemaking in the Antinori family dates back to 1385. Yes, 1385! That's 622 years before your nifty iPhone!
Throw on the new Best Coast record or some classic Beach Boys, open this special 2009 Antica Chardonnay and have a fantastic summer!