Calmel & Joseph Villa Blanche Chardonnay 2019

Courtney Flood rated this wine as 88/100 with the following review:

Chardonnay from the southern coast of France; delicate with aromas of honeydew melon, apple, white grapefruit, lily, melted butter and cracked white pepper; mouthwatering, creamy on the palate with a smoky, buttery brioche finish. Excellent pairing for white fish, seafood, and creamy pasta. Good value wine - good pairing for traditional Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner as well.

Tasted December 2020

Christian Marcoux rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:

Made by Calmel & Joseph, in the Pays d'Oc in France, the Villa Blanche 2019 offers a delicious Chardonnay. Aromas of yellow apple, white peach, citrus blossom, saline, butter, vanilla and pie crust. Medium-bodied, this delicious Chardonnay pleases its supple acidity and warm finish. Palate: yellow apple, apricot, lime peel, saline, butter and toffee. Enjoy!

L.J. Palmer WSET 3 rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

An excellent wine that exemplifies the value to be found in areas like Languedoc-Roussillon. The wine is medium lemon in colour, with a slight green hue, medium bodied and a pronounced nose. The aroma is more a warm aroma of yellow pear, white flowers, cantaloupe, anise, mild oak spice and some buttery notes. These flavours are all replicated in the palate. The wine is mid weight and creamy, with balanced acidity. I paired it with a white pizza, with mushrooms, caramelized onions and cheese. Absolutely delicious. It would work very well with roasted/caramelized foods like a sheet pan chicken thigh dinner with caramelized onions, apples and sweet potatoes.

Lori Kilmartin WSET3 rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:

A French Chardonnay that could be mistaken as a wine from California. Very aromatic with ripe tropical fruit and toasted oak on the nose. Medium bodied with balanced acidity. Rich mouthfeel and medium fruity finish. Great price point!

Andrea Shapiro rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Calmel & Joseph Villa Blanche Chardonnay 2019, hailing from the Pays d’Oc of France’s Languedoc-Roussillon region. A welcoming bouquet of grapefruit citrus, white lillies and a hint of tropical fruit and delicate mineral components. Flavours bring, crispin apples, poached pears and smoky grilled pineapples alongside bright, lingering acidity. Medium bodied, with a lip-smacking citrusy finish and a decadent, rich oily mouthfeel. An outstanding value for $15.25. Versatile food accompaniments include poached salmon, buttery garlic shrimp and chicken dishes, or curled up with a good book. Enjoy! - tasted September 2020

Molly Amoli Shinhat reviewed this wine as follows:

In the glass, it's a pale lemon with gold shimmer and dreams of green. It hails from the Mediterranean - Pays d'Oc, France. On the nose, it gives lemon, very ripe peach, acacia, and whiffs of vanilla. A medium-bodied, 100% Chardonnay, it's bone dry at 5 g/l residual sugar. It's a great sipper with the rich, ripe peach, ripe lemon, and vanilla notes, but it's at the stronger end with 13.5% a.b.v. It finishes long on creamy lemon notes, almost like a lemon curd.

This is a food-friendly wine because of its juicy fruitiness and racy acidity. It would pair deliciously with Mediterranean cuisine.

It's the 2019 vintage Chardonnay of Calmel & Joseph's Villa Blanche series. With grapes grown in volcanic, limestone, and clay soils, the Mediterranean climate means hot, sunny days, with winds, but cooler nights. Together this helps the grapes ripen, to develop flavours while the cooler nights prevent the grapes from ripening too quickly or overripening while flavours and acidity continue to develop complexity and ripeness.

Interestingly harvest for this Chardonnay happens in two passes: the first done earlier to maintain vigour in the wine, and the second to ensure grapes with mature flavours, showing strong varietal characteristics also get a voice in the wine.

Once made up, the wine is aged for 3 months in oak before bottling.

Chill, sip, and enjoy this award-winning wine! A perfect choice for Thanksgiving turkey and hearty vegetable dishes. Also pairs well with Mediterranean cuisine or cheddar cheese, with your favourite tomatoes, olives, and bread.

Craig Haynes rated this wine as 88/100 with the following review:

In my glass, the 2019 Villa Blanche chardonnay opened with scents of white flower blooms, yellow apple and pear, grilled butter and whispers of minerality. Together, they introduced a creamy, medium bodied palate marked by white orchard tree fruit, almond and buttery flavours that defined this chardonnay’s lingering finish. Ready to drink. Will pair well with roasted chicken fare and BBQed corn on the cob. Enjoy.

Reviewed on September 18, 2020

Jane Staples rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:

A fullbodied, rich Chardonnay from IGP Pays d’Oc, Languedoc-Roussillon, France. On the nose, apple, vanilla, sweet spice, toast and lime. The palate gives lime, ripe pineapple, guava and slight smoke, with a very creamy mouthfeel and lingering lime zest on finish. I'd pair this with grilled scallops or squash risotto. Great value here and worth picking up for that turkey dinner that's coming to a house near you soon!
Tasted Sept. 2020

Jennifer Havers rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:

Great flavours and an amazing price point. Aromas of golden apple and pear, with a hint of lime and some mineral notes. Medium bodied, creamy on the palate with medium acidity and ripe fruit flavours, along with hints of honey, and a mineral finish. Enjoy with an herb roasted chicken or pan seared halibut.