Imagine my surprise to see a bottle of Big Guy White waiting for me when I returned from vacation yesterday (a day too late to report on it). But that didn’t keep me from pan-frying some cod, lightly dusted with flour, butter and lemon pepper. Now the wine:
PnP straight from the 'fridge: pale yellow; slow-to-form long thin legs; a very pleasant nose with hints of melon and cream. Not your floral lightweight, to be sure. The taste was not at all what I expected from a “daily drinker” – this wine has pedigree, smart acidic balance and character. I detected pear, Fiji apple and honeydew melon on the palate. The aftertaste is lingering, definitely driven by the Chardonnay. If I didn’t know better, I’d say it underwent some Malolactic fermentation. Though it’s crisp rather than buttery. It went well with the cod, though made quite pleasant sipping while I cooked.
It’s exactly what I’d expect from a well-made Chardonnay that didn’t have to be laid down for a few years in a cellar. If your summer sipper go-to is a Riesling, you’ll be disappointed with the depth of this beauty. Likewise, it lacks the mown grass nature of an SB. This is a “daily drinker” for the refined drinker who tires of spending $40-$50 a bottle to get their fix of Chardonnay. If only I had gotten back in town in time to order a case. Sigh.