Carlin de Paolo – Chardonnay – 2019

The trendy phase these days seems to be “ABC” (Anything But Chardonnay). Chardonnay has a bad rap because my Australian brothers and sisters decided to oak the sh!t out of it back in the late 90’s and early 2000’s. It really put people off the grape. But an unbaked Chardonnay is a thing of beauty. It has loads of flavour and structure and it’s a pleasure to drink on a warm summers day, now you oak that a teeny bit and you retain that freshness yet give the wine a little richness and additional structure. …which is exactly what this wine is! It’s got loads of freshness with a little more depth.  Give it a try and I assure you, we’ll be moving on from our ABCs.

Tasting Note: It’s Chardonnay, but not as you know it! Lightly touched with oak, the zesty liveliness of the grape is retained with a gorgeous bouquet of peach and apple blossoms that breezes onto the palate to join tropical flavours of ripe pineapple and banana and a slightly bitter almond finish.

Pair it with: Exceptionally versatile, this pairs well with fresh fish dishes, chicken dishes and soft, creamy cheeses like brie or fresh ricotta.