I love fun wines — wines that surprise you with their exuberance. It’s like you can taste the excitement and a hint of the humour, of the winemaker when he was crafting his work of art. That’s Louis Jadot Mâcon-Villages Chardonnay. It’s bright, lively, fully of character and charm. It tastes like the flush fields of Burgundy, and yet simultaneously like Cali’s summer sun. Hello Jadot and Cheers to you!
About the Wine: Louis Jadot Mâcon-Villages Chardonnay is made from 100% Chardonnay grapes from — you guessed it — the Mâconnais region (just south of Burgundy) in France, where Chardonnay is the main grape grown. This particular area of France, west of the Saône River, contains soils with high percentages of chalk and limestone.
This particular Chardonnay is unoaked. 12.5% ABV
Flavor Profile: Wowzah!
Ok, I know you need more than that. The wine emits a gentle yellow hue in the glass — quite pretty and delicate, indeed. Initial aromas include fresh green apple, a bit of lemon citrus zest, and a most intriguing grassy-herbaceousness. On the palate is where this wine truly sings. You’ve got an initial hit of green, leafy herbs and a hint of minerality that keeps the wine earthy-fresh. But hold on to it for a second. Let the wine settle on your tongue and you’ll start salivating in no time. There’s a tartness — like sour green Granny Smith apple — that takes over the tastebuds. But it does so in a delightful way — that herbaceousness, though it takes a back seat, never leaves you; that minerality keeps things in check. So while your first sip or two might take you aback, you’ll find that it’s all just a bit of whit and whimsey from the winemaker.
Food Pairing: Oh you could easily enjoy this wine on its own, having fun sipping and savouring all the subtle nuances, letting the wine play tickle-tantrum with your tastebuds. But I’m a big fan of food-and-wine pairing so, of course I have my personal recommendation. I enjoyed this wine with salmon, grilled medium rare. That acidity, that tartness, did well to cut through the fattiness of the fish. Alongside my salmon, I had a summer stone fruit-based salad: peaches, pluots, a bit of mango, tossed in an herb salad, gently dressed with white balsamic and just a sprinkling of feta. Those soft stone fruits pulled out more of the calmer notes in the wine, while the herbs in the salad…well, complimented the herbs in the wine.
More Info: Please see some of my other Louis Jadot recommendations. I find that a lot of their varietals are a fun and friendly way to introduce yourself to the nuances of French wine. For more information about Louis Jadot and to purchase their wines directly, please do visit the Love Jadot website. I was able to find the Louis Jadot Mâcon-Villages Chardonnay at Trader Joe’s (Price: $11.99).
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