chateau st jean chardonnayr Wine

Is your vision of “wine country” rolling, grapevine covered hills and elegant chateaus?

Well, here’s a Wine of the Week that fits into that picture… Chateau St. Jean 2006 Chardonnay from Sonoma. Yep…Sonoma.

This elegant chateau is nestled in those grapevine covered Sonoma hills… and this Chardonnay captures the rays of the California sun. That sun ripened tropical flavor… combined with the full round texture and creamy finish makes for a delightful Chardonnay that’s pure Sonoma County.

Chateau St. Jean is known for single vineyard estate wines…and this wine uses grapes from each of the vineyards.

It’s a terrific everyday chardonnay for about thirteen dollars. It’s perfect for a plateful of shrimp and lobster risotto, your favorite chicken dish or just to sip all by itself.

Now that’s what we like in a wine of the week - easy to drink and easy to buy and easy to enjoy!

Chateau St. Jean 2006 Sonoma Chardonnay.

Pop the Cork™.Wine on the Radio - October 12, 2007

Winemaker's Notes and Comments:

The Vineyards: The Sonoma County Chardonnay showcases fruit from all over the county but, year after year, the Robert Young Vineyard in Alexander Valley takes a prominent role in the blend (16%). Alexander Valley, Sonoma Valley, Russian River Valley, Dry Creek and Carneros are dynamic growing regions that offer a new set of variables with each vintage. With Chateau St. Jean's Sonoma County wines, we look to make the most of these variables, seeking the best expression of Chardonnay from a particular vintage.

Winemaking: Classic winemaking techniques to include barrel fermentation and seven months of sur lie aging in small French and American oak barrels impart richness and complexity to the wine. Approximately 84% of the blend underwent malolactic fermentation.

Wine Tasting Comments: Inviting aromas of lemon, pear and jasmine along with a touch of toasty vanilla mingle on the nose of this classic Sonoma County Chardonnay. Refreshing and balanced, the wine has vibrant acidity with pleasing flavors of pear, pineapple and roasted almonds that lead to a clean finish.

Chateau St. Jean is Sonoma’s first and foremost champion of single vineyard designated wines, founded around a concept cherished for centuries in Europe but new to California – terroir (pronounced “ter wahr”). This French word has no direct translation in English. Nevertheless, it speaks volumes about how each vineyard’s unique combination of climate, soil and growing conditions determine a grape’s flavor and intensity. To achieve Chateau St. Jean single vineyard designation, the grapes must consistently exhibit exceptional varietal character. The superior quality of the vineyards must be proven, vintage after vintage.

And these same vineyards allowed Chateau St. Jean to be the only winery ever to have placed five wines in a single Wine Spectator Top 100 rating. (Cinq Cépages Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County Chardonnay, Belle Terre Vineyard Chardonnay and Sonoma County Merlot). Great wines are made in the vineyards.

Notes on our Wines of the Week, Recommendations, and Picks:

When you read our thoughts, please remember that you may think differently. A particular wine may be your favorite and not on our list. Well, don't stop buying it because of that. In fact, you may want to email us and let us know about it. These are our opinions but our FIRST recommendation is to go by your own palate.

A couple of other thoughts...first, prices are approximate. They'll vary. Second, different vintages mean different grapes and different tastes so our recommendation for a 2000 Merlot may not hold for 2001.

And lastly, we remind you to drink responsibly! Now, all that said, here is a summary of links to our suggestions. Find one (or more) and pop the cork!

Read the fine print . . .

Wine consumption can have positive physical benefits or cause possible physical harm . . . the medical community is divided in some areas. If you have any doubt, check with your doctor before consuming wine or any other alcoholic drink.

Our information is well researched. Recommendations are based on our opinions at the time of publication. At the same time, recommendations change. Also, there may be significant variance in taste depending on storage, shipping, and other factors.

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