Some wines are for sipping, some are for special occasions, and every now again, you come across a wine that has simply been made for food. I have found a new dining companion in Middelvlei’s Unoaked Chardonnay 2019, who loves cooking just as much as I do.
Introduction
I guess the thrill of receiving a bottle of wine that I’ve not tasted before will never really dwindle for me. The anticipation of the first pour always leaves me nervously excited at what I’m about to experience, whilst simultaneously filling me with prospects of lazy afternoons in the kitchen.
I recently received this bottle of Middelvlei Unoaked Chardonnay 2019, and I loved everything about it even before I cracked the lid. Little did I know that we’d become well acquainted in the kitchen soon.
Background
The estate covers 160 ha of which 130 are planted with Pinotage, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.
Under the Momberg’s watchful eye the mature vineyards are kept in prime condition, while new plantings are carefully chosen to suit the terroir. The body and backbone contributed by the mature vines are complemented by fresh fruitiness derived from more recent plantings.
As an estate, all Middelvlei wines are made from their own grapes. And it’s in the vineyards where the shift to making more fruit-driven wines, first begun. Middelvlei has adapted viticultural practices to limit yields, enhance fruit richness and intensity, and to achieve greater parity of physiological and phenolic ripeness. A replanting programme, involving the renewal of the farm’s 130 hectares of vines at the rate of 10 hectares per year is currently in progress (http://www.middelvlei.co.za).
Middelvlei Unoaked Chardonnay 2019
We all know by now that I’m a great Chardonnay fan. Oaked, lightly oaked or unoaked, there is just something so alluring about the rich colour and deep textures of this wine. I find Chardonnay to be an incredibly versatile wine, as its generally robust enough to stand up against strong and spicy food profiles, but delicate and fragrant enough to sip on its own.
I unceremoniously and instantly fell in love with Middelvlei’s unoaked Chardonnay. It was surprisingly crisp and refreshing, without losing the classic characteristics of a good Chardonnay. Lacking in the intense butteriness and yellow tones of its oaked sibling, this was a modern and fresh interpretation of Chardonnay with juicy hints of citrus and stone fruit, followed by a gorgeous minerality on the finish.
Being on different ends of the wine spectrum, The Tall Hedonist simply can’t wrap his tastebuds around Chardonnay, where it is very often my varietal of choice. I found him sipping this beauty in silence with a little smile on his face, turning the glass in his fingers against the sun. I realised that Middelvlei was the catalyst that would finally activate his taste for Chardonnay. I was happy.
Tasting notes: perfectly balanced, with hints of minerality and a well-integrated acidity. As the wine opens up an abundance of typical citrus and peach fruit flavours, with hints of spice come to the fore. The refreshing mouthfeel holds the promise of a lingering aftertaste, resulting in a crisp wine with an appealing freshness.
In the vineyard: The grapes for this wine were sourced from a cooler west-facing vineyard, planted in 2010. 100% Chardonnay.
In the cellar: Ready to drink now, but will reach its optimal peak if left in ideal cellaring conditions for the next three to four years.
Cellar door price: approx. R95 per bottle
The Little Hedonist’s food pairing suggestion: Needless to say, I didn’t leave this one to age. It was beautiful to drink immediately, and we comfortably paired up in the kitchen, as this Chardonnay has a hunger for food.
As one does when family comes to visit, I took out my best ingredients to present to Middelvlei’s unoaked Chardonnay. A bottle of fine olive oil, rough-skinnned lemons, gorgeous wholewheat pasta twirls, freshly picked and intensely aromatic rosemary, buttery avocado’s and a wedge of slightly matured brie. This wine only deserved the absolute best, and on my kitchen counter now lay a showcase of some of my greatest indulgences.
The creamy, zesty pasta dish was exactly what the Chardonnay begged for, and the simplicity of the dish elevated the complexity of the wine.
Vegetarian dishes, like this one, is perfect for this young wine. It would also be a stunner with delicate seafood, fish and shellfish, or any dish with a hint of creaminess, such as pate’s and terrines. Although I don’t feel the need to pair this wine with a meat dish, it would also be well received with a zesty spatchcock chicken roast, or a simple meal of grilled fish or risotto.
In conclusion
Certainly one of my best finds of 2019. This wine has been added to my list of trusted staples and will form the centre of conversation for many more dinners to come.
Thank you, Middelvlei, for putting your heart into this gorgeous bottle of Chardonnay. My new year’s resolution is to keep a few bottles long enough so that it can age!
Disclaimer: I was given this product(s) as part of a press drop in exchange for my honest and truthful opinion and review thereof. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are solely those of The Little Hedonist, given in good faith and in no way influenced by the company or its affiliates. All images, unless otherwise stated / credited, are also my own.
The Little Hedonist endorses responsible drinking.
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