Full Review

St. Clair Winery

St. Clair Winery
2017 Special Reserve, Chardonnay, New Mexico

Pair this wine with:
Chicken Shellfish Turkey

Category: Chardonnay

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 13%
90 Points
Gold Medal
Exceptional
$13
Best Buy

St. Clair Winery
2017 Special Reserve, Chardonnay, New Mexico

Pair this wine with:
Chicken Shellfish Turkey

Category: Chardonnay

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 13%
Golden yellow color. Aromas and flavors of toasted apple muffin, apricot, pineapple coulis, caramel buttercream, mocha, and white flowers with a velvety, vibrant, fruity medium-to-full body and a silky, complex, long finish that exhibits impressions of flint and orange blossom with moderate oak flavor. A luscious, full-flavor Chardonnay that overdelivers.

Tasting Info

Wine Glass Style: Fruity, Juicy & Smooth, Oaky, Rich & Full & Spicy & Complex
Aroma Aroma: toasted apple muffin, apricot, pineapple coulis, caramel buttercream, mocha, and white flowers
Taste Flavor: Same as aromas with impressions of flint and orange blossom
Sweetness Sweetness: Fruity
Enjoy Enjoy: Now-3 years on its own and with food
Recipes Pairing: Turkey, Roasted Chicken, Boiled Lobster
Bottom Line Bottom Line: A luscious, full-flavor Chardonnay that overdelivers.

The Producer

Southwest Wines

The Producer
1325 Debaca Rd SE
Deming, NM 88030
USA
1 575-546-9324

Their Portfolio

85 Aldi NV Pomegranate Mimosa Wine Cocktail 8% (USA) $8.00.
87 Aldi Mango Mimosa Wine Cocktail 8% (USA) $8.00.
85 Aldi NV Orange Mimosa, New Mexico 8% (USA) $10.00.
88 Aldi NV Pineapple Mimosa, New Mexico 8% (USA) $10.00.
86 Aldi NV Mango Mimosa, New Mexico 8% (USA) $10.00.
BR Aldi NV Pomegranate Mimosa, New Mexico 8% (USA) $10.00. - Bronze Medal
90 Aldi NV Mimosa, New Mexico 8% (USA) $8.99.
90 DH Lescombes 2018 631, Cabernet Sauvignon, New Mexico 13% (USA) $15.00.
BR DH Lescombes 2016 Heritage Series, Cabernet Sauvignon, New Mexico 15% (USA) $24.00. - Bronze Medal
89 DH Lescombes 2015 Limited Release, Cabernet Franc, New Mexico 15% (USA) $38.00.
87 DH Lescombes 2014 Limited Release, Petit Verdot, New Mexico 15% (USA) $38.00.
BR Plum Loco NV Sweet Wine, New Mexico 11% (USA) $10.00. - Bronze Medal
85 Soleil NV Mimosa Classic, American 8% (USA) $15.00.
85 Soleil NV Mimosa Classic, American 8% (USA) $15.00.
88 Soleil NV Mimosa Pineapple, American 8% (USA) $15.00.
88 Soleil NV Mimosa Pineapple, American 8% (USA) $15.00.
87 Soleil NV Mimosa Pomegranate, American 8% (USA) $15.00.
87 Soleil NV Mimosa Pomegranate, American 8% (USA) $15.00.
85 Soleil NV Mimosa Mango, American 8% (USA) $15.00.
85 Soleil NV Mimosa Mango, American 8% (USA) $15.00.
88 St. Clair Winery 2015 Special Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon, New Mexico 15% (USA) $15.00.
91 St. Clair Winery 2017 Special Reserve, Chenin Blanc, New Mexico 12% (USA) $12.00.
90 St. Clair Winery 2017 Special Reserve, Chardonnay, New Mexico 13% (USA) $13.00.
90 St. Clair Winery 2018 Bellissimo, New Mexico 12% (USA) $15.00.
88 St. Clair Winery NV Brut, New Mexico 11% (USA) $15.00.

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.