Do you like chardonnay? I love chardonnay! While other people sip their pinot's I would much rather be on a beach somewhere with a glass of chard in my hand. Chardonnay is a great friend to have. If she ever lets you down it's never that bad and when she's on it, she's the best of all the wines. Well, to me at least.Tonight I don't hear the waves crashing at my feet but I am trying a pretty decent chardonnay. I picked up a bottle of 2007 Hardys Nottage Hill .
The first thing that you notice with this wine is really nothing at all. It doesn't have a fancy, eye-catching label. It doesn't jump off the shelf at you. It just sits there and waits to be enjoyed. And enjoyable it is.
What I really like about this wine is it's texture. Sometimes textures in wines, like in many foods, can turn you off. Have you ever eaten something that smelled good but when you popped it in your mouth it felt too slimy or crunchy and left you disappointed? (Corn nuts anyone?) Well Hardys chardonnay has some of the best texture a wine can offer. (Forgive me because I'm about to wax poetic.)
The wine is supple and has a creamy texture. It goes past the "liquid" feel and actually has this, hmmm, I guess you could call it "round" feeling. The only comparison I can make is imagine yogurt but a little less consistent. Not to mention that this is really solid on the flavor side also. It smells very oaky and that carries over to a big fruit finish on the tongue.
Hardys Nottage Hill is a wine that you need to try but be wary that the oak may be a turn off for some. Overall I'm pleased with this bottle and very disappointed with the lack of ocean in front of me. I guess there's always next summer.
Check out Hardy's wines HERE and notice that they also put this stuff in a box. Awesome!
Cheers.
~Rob.
Rating: 7.5 out of 10.
