Community Review

Sterling Vineyards Vintner’s Collection Chardonnay 2012

Central Coast, California, United States

Community Score: 4.3/5
Community Reviews: 11

Price: $15.95

Sweetness: Dry
Alcohol: 13.5%

Drink: 2013-2017

Bottle size: 750 ml
Winery: Sterling

Deborah Podurgiel WSET IV Candidate rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Summer Barbie parties are great, but how does one manage to have stellar wines without busting the budget? Well, you can rely on word of mouth from friends, or your very helpful and knowledgeable local wine store associate.

Ultimately, the answer is -- well, you've got to try them yourself. I know that sounds sacrificial, and in a way it is -- both from a cost and taste point of view.

Such was the case with this wine. I went to a wine store counting on a particular wine, and when it wasn't exactly what I had in mind (balance was off) the store wine manager suggested the Sterling Vintner's Collection Chardonnay.

Dead on -- it was exactly what I was looking for. A Chard (indeed, people still love Chardonnay) with perfect acidity, butter and toast (light American oak) excellent and plentiful apple flavours, popcorn and judicious (if not, constrained) use of oak.

Butter, toast, mineral, citrus and cooked apple and, yes, much to my surprise -- fig and light caramel on the palate. Lots of dimension and complexity to this wine.

In fact, it went with my smoked trout appie (buttery and structured)as well as a lobster boil up with a lemon butter, white wine (same wine)and fresh pureed Mexican garlic (a flavour somewhat between a shallot and mild garlic) sauce -- while the Sterling Chard cut through the richness, it also complemented the richness of the (Maritime) lobster.

Absolutely excellent!

Read Natalie's Full Review

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