Full Review

McIlroy

McIlroy
2023 Aquarius Ranch Vineyard Reserve, Chardonnay, Russian River Valley

Pair this wine with:
Chicken Shellfish Turkey

Category: Chardonnay

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 14.1% RS: .05%
90 Points
Gold Medal
Exceptional
$45

McIlroy
2023 Aquarius Ranch Vineyard Reserve, Chardonnay, Russian River Valley

Pair this wine with:
Chicken Shellfish Turkey

Category: Chardonnay

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 14.1% RS: .05%
Golden straw color. Aromas and flavors of hot popcorn kernels, coconut butter and lemon cream, apricot and pineapple, and yellow and green apple with a round, lively, dryish medium-to-full body and an appealing, medium-length finish evoking touches of baked apple, lemon cream, apricot, and popcorn with light oak flavor. A bold, luscious Chardonnay rich with orchard fruits; perfect with risotto, roasted chicken, or cheeses.

Tasting Info

Wine Glass Style: Crisp & Lively
Aroma Aroma: hot popcorn kernels, coconut butter and lemon cream, apricot and pineapple, and yellow and green apple
Taste Flavor: Same as aromas with touches of baked apple, lemon cream, apricot, and popcorn
Sweetness Sweetness: Dryish
Enjoy Enjoy: Now-3 years on its own and with food
Recipes Pairing: Turkey, Roasted Chicken, Boiled Lobster
Bottom Line Bottom Line: A bold, luscious Chardonnay rich with orchard fruits; perfect with risotto, roasted chicken, or cheeses.

The Producer

McIlroy Wines

The Producer
8340 Blackney Road
Sebastopol, CA 95472
USA
1 707-478-5200

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.