Full Review

Steeple Street

Steeple Street
2018 Chardonnay, Lodi

Pair this wine with:
Chicken Shellfish Turkey

Category: Chardonnay

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 14.5%
86 Points
Silver Medal
Highly Recommended
$18.99

Steeple Street
2018 Chardonnay, Lodi

Pair this wine with:
Chicken Shellfish Turkey

Category: Chardonnay

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 14.5%
Yellow straw color. Aromas and flavors of plantains, ripe pear, caramel on yogurt, marshmallow, and graham cracker with a silky, crisp, dry-yet-fruity light body and a smooth, buoyant finish with accents of ghee with a suggestion of oak flavor. A gulpable Chardonnay for anytime enjoyment.

Tasting Info

Wine Glass Style: Crisp & Lively, Fruity, Juicy & Smooth & Non-Oaky
Aroma Aroma: plantains, ripe pear, caramel on yogurt, marshmallow, and graham cracker
Taste Flavor: Same as aromas with accents of ghee
Sweetness Sweetness: Dry-yet-Fruity
Enjoy Enjoy: Now on its own and with food
Recipes Pairing: Turkey, Roasted Chicken, Boiled Lobster
Bottom Line Bottom Line: A gulpable chardonnay for anytime enjoyment.

The Producer

Traveling Vineyard

The Producer
127 High Street
Ipswich, MA 01938
USA
1 707-234-4747

Their Portfolio

87 Amico De Penna 2021 Grechetto, Bianco Umbria IGT 12.7% (Italy) $19.00.
BR Bailando 2019 Plus, Malbec, Mendoza 14% (Argentina) $17.00. - Bronze Medal
BR Caballeria de Luna 2019 Spanish White Wine, Penedes 12.1% (Spain) $15.99. - Bronze Medal
89 Calamity Sue 2018 Riesling, Monterey County 13% (USA) $17.99.
BR Desvia 2019 Eco, Tempranillo, Vino de Castilla 13% (Spain) $18.99. - Bronze Medal
92 Giovina 2020 Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC 13% (Italy) $18.00.
91 Jack Canyon 2016 Malbec, Wahluke Slope 12.8% (USA) $19.00.
85 Jitterbug 2019 Sauvignon Blanc, Lodi 12.1% (USA) $18.00.
BR La Screaming Goat 2020 Gewürztraminer, Pays D’oc Igp 14% (France) $19.00. - Bronze Medal
85 Lancre 2021 Rosé, Mendoza 12.8% (Argentina) $18.00.
91 Lulo 2019 Gruner Veltliner, Monterey County 13.1% (USA) $19.99.
BR Never Have I Ever 2021 Fizzy, Sauvignon Blanc, Lodi 13.2% (USA) $26.00. - Bronze Medal
86 Peekaboo 2020 Chardonnay, South-Eastern Australia 13.1% (Australia) $19.00.
86 Polpo Blu 2021 Pecorino, Terre Di Chieti IGP 13% (Italy) $19.00.
85 Porticina 2020 Terre Di Chieti IGT 12.2% (Italy) $18.00.
88 Santoreggia 2020 Sangiovese, Puglia IGT 12.3% (Italy) $18.00.
87 Screaming Goat 2020 Gewurztraminer, Monterey County 12.64% (USA) $19.00.
86 Small Hours 2017 Zinfandel, Lodi 16.1% (USA) $19.00.
85 State Room 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon, Western Cape 13.7% (South Africa) $16.00.
86 Steeple Street 2018 Chardonnay, Lodi 14.5% (USA) $18.99.
BR Steeple Street 2018 Chardonnay, California 14.2% (USA) $18.00. - Bronze Medal
BR Streamer NV White Blend Spritzer, New York State 5.8% (USA) $19.00. - Bronze Medal
85 Three Hearts 2021 Fizzy Rosé, Mendoza 12.8% (Argentina) $18.00.
BR VAYCAY NV Red Sangria, Spain 11% (Spain) $18.99. - Bronze Medal
85 Woodvale Estates 2016 Merlot, Columbia Valley 12% (USA) $18.00.

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.