Full Review

Biltmore Reserve

Biltmore Reserve
2021 Chardonnay, North Carolina

Pair this wine with:
Chicken Shellfish Turkey

Category: Chardonnay

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 12.5% RS: .3%
86 Points
Silver Medal
Highly Recommended
$25

Biltmore Reserve
2021 Chardonnay, North Carolina

Pair this wine with:
Chicken Shellfish Turkey

Category: Chardonnay

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 12.5% RS: .3%
Golden straw color. Aromas and flavors of coconut cream, baked yellow apple, caramel corn, and butterscotch dipped banana with a round, lively, dryish medium body and a tingling, captivating, medium-length finish evoking notes of lemon coconut cream, butter poached yellow apple, and white and yellow flowers with moderate oak flavor. Ticks all of the boxes for modernly styled American Chardonnay.

Tasting Info

Wine Glass Style: New World
Aroma Aroma: coconut cream, baked yellow apple, caramel corn, and butterscotch dipped banana
Taste Flavor: Same as aromas with notes of lemon coconut cream, butter poached yellow apple, and white and yellow flowers
Sweetness Sweetness: Dryish
Enjoy Enjoy: Now with food and on its own
Recipes Pairing: Turkey, Roasted Chicken, Boiled Lobster
Bottom Line Bottom Line: Ticks all of the boxes for modernly styled American Chardonnay.

The Producer

Biltmore Estate Wine Co.

The Producer
1 N. Pack Square
Asheville, NC 28801
USA
1 828-225-1487

Their Portfolio

89 Antler Hill 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 14.8% (USA) $75.00.
BR Antler Hill 2018 Pinot Noir, Chalk Hill, Sonoma County 14.8% (USA) $50.00. - Bronze Medal
88 Antler Hill 2021 Chardonnay, Carneros 14.5% (USA) $40.00.
89 Biltmore Estate 2019 Limited Release, Malbec, American 13% (USA) $28.00.
88 Biltmore Estate 2019 The Hunt Red Blend, Sonoma County 14.8% (USA) $45.00.
85 Biltmore Estate 2019 Limited Release, Petit Verdot, American 14.1% (USA) $28.00.
86 Biltmore Estate 2019 Estate, Merlot, American 13.8% (USA) $18.00.
BR Biltmore Estate 2020 Limited Release, Sauvignon Blanc, American 13.7% (USA) $22.00. - Bronze Medal
86 Biltmore Estate 2020 Estate, Sauvignon Blanc, American 13.5% (USA) $17.00.
BR Biltmore Estate 2020 Chardonnay, American 13% (USA) $18.00. - Bronze Medal
89 Biltmore Estate 2020 Pinot Grigio, American 13.5% (USA) $15.00.
BR Biltmore Estate 2019 Limited Release, Pinot Noir, American 13.9% (USA) $28.00. - Bronze Medal
86 Biltmore Estate 2021 Chardonnay, American 13.9% (USA) $18.00.
86 Biltmore Estate 2021 Pinot Noir, American 14.1% (USA) $22.00.
BR Biltmore Estate 2021 Pinot Grigio, American 13.5% (USA) $18.00. - Bronze Medal
BR Biltmore Estate 2021 Pinot Grigio, American 13.5% (USA) $18.00. - Bronze Medal
86 Biltmore Estate 2021 Sauvignon Blanc, American 13.9% (USA) $18.00.
86 Biltmore Estate 2022 Limited Release, Chenin Blanc, American 13% (USA) $19.00.
BR Biltmore Estate 2022 Limited Release, Gewurztraminer, American 13.2% (USA) $21.00. - Bronze Medal
85 Biltmore Estate 2021 Riesling, American 13% (USA) $18.00.
87 Biltmore Estate 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, American 13.9% (USA) $22.00.
86 Biltmore Estate 2021 Merlot, American 13.9% (USA) $18.00.
92 Biltmore Estate 2020 Limited Release, Malbec, American 13.9% (USA) $30.00.
93 Biltmore Estate NV Cardinal’s Crest® Winemaker’s Blend, American 14.1% (USA) $22.00.
87 Biltmore Estate Cardinal’s Crest Bottle Package 14.1% (USA) $22.00.
85 Biltmore Estate 2021 Chardonnay, American 13.9% (USA) $18.00.
86 Biltmore Estate 2022 Chardonnay, American 13.9% (USA) $15.00.
87 Biltmore Estate 2022 Sauvignon Blanc, American 13.9% (USA) $15.00.
88 Biltmore Reserve 2019 Reserve, Cabernet Franc, North Carolina 12.5% (USA) $40.00.
86 Biltmore Reserve 2019 Chardonnay, North Carolina 13% (USA) $25.00.
86 Biltmore Reserve 2021 Chardonnay, North Carolina 12.5% (USA) $25.00.
91 Biltmore Reserve 2022 Chardonnay, North Carolina 12.5% (USA) $25.00.
92 Vanderbilt Reserve 2019 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley 14.5% (USA) $40.00.

Chardonnay

Wine Glass White.jpg
Serve in a White Wine Glass
Chardonnay is arguably the world’s most famous white variety, thanks to its success in France’s Burgundy region as well as throughout much of California. Chardonnay on its own has rather straightforward, pleasant aromas of apple and pear, but when aged (and sometimes fermented) in small oak barrels, the wines take on extra richness as well as notes of toasted almond, vanilla and yeast.

The most renowned examples of Chardonnay are from small villages and vineyards in Burgundy, such as Chassagne-Montrachet, Puligny-Montrachet and Meursault. These wines are very powerful with ample spicy notes and very good acidity; they age very well, sometimes as long as 20-25 years. Another part of Burgundy, Chablis, is home to more restrained style of Chardonnay. Certain areas of California, especially Russian River Valley in Sonoma and Santa Barbara County are also home to many distinguished examples of Chardonnay, with those from the latter region often displaying tropical fruit flavors.

Given that most Chardonnnays are aged in small oak barrels, there has been a movement as of late to give consumers a mored delicate style of Chardonnay, without all the spicy and toasty flavors. Thus there are now many producers that produce non-oak aged Chardonnays; this has been seen from many producers from Australia as well as a few in California as well.

Chardonnay, especially oak-aged versions, are quite rich and need seafood of equal richness at the dinner table. Thus lobster, halibut and swordfish are ideal food pairings.