When it comes to Chardonnay, I’m a cheap date, for the most part

I’m sitting here, sipping on a very expensive Chardonnay; lots of oak, 100 percent ML. It’s considered one of the best.

Malolactic fermentation simplified:

A + B = C

Acid + Bacteria = Cream.

• The Acid is Malic, the same one found in Apples and lots of other fruit.
• The winemaker adds a Bacteria.
• The conversion is from Malic Acid to Lactic Acid as an end product, which is the same acid that’s found in Cream.

This ML Chardonnay by itself is a topic of conversation; so, if that’s your intent, winemaker, you win. With food, however, it becomes a topic of how Chardonnay can be over manipulated.

So, what kind of Chardonnay floats my real boat?

Chablis styled chardonnay… Very simple, very clean, and very refreshing. Lower alcohol, did I mention that as well?

Whomever decided that malolactic fermentation had to also be applied to white wines, most specifically in this case Chardonnay, came on with a vengeance. And, unfortunately for my palate, so many winemakers followed.

Note to you guys for people like me: pull back on it a bit for a food friendly wine. If I want almonds and cream, I’ll be eating them, along with enjoying my less expensive wine to balance my food flavors. And, if I want caramel, I’ll suck on hard candy after dinner.

That’s how you as a consumer can decide not to get these big, over the top flavors… Go for the cheaper Chardonnays, because it costs a lot of money to malolactic ferment…

Less expensive Chardonnays pair well as an aperitif with cheeses, with cream dishes like a creamy dill asparagus soup; or chicken, pork, and fish with lovely sauces (like a plum or teriyaki sauce) that rounds out your flavors.

You, too, can join the “Cheap Date Society.”

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