By Aaron Winsor
Hello Prince Albert! It’s time for another Chardonnay showdown where I take two different Chardonnay wines and put them head-to-head to see which reigns supreme! This particular showdown has two budget Chardonnays competing with one another; both are new world wines, and I was excited to taste two brands which I’ve never had before. I also had the chance to try a couple of Canadian beers and an affordable everyday-sipping whisky. More on those later, it’s time to chat about Chardonnay.
As I’ve mentioned several times before, Chardonnay is truly a chameleon grape and its flavor profile and textural characteristics can change drastically depending on its region of growth, growing conditions, grape quality, aging (barrel or stainless steel/concrete) and how it was bottled. Chardonnay is considered a “neutral” varietal since many of its flavor descriptors fall into the “medium” category. You can clearly see this trend by looking at either the Finca Los Primos or the Wolf Blass Chardonnay.
There is a large contrast in style between Chardonnay and those made with Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Moscato or Gewurztraminer as these are all considered “aromatic” varietals and most are almost always at a higher level for intensity, concentration and in some cases acidity. Chardonnay on the other hand, takes the mellow route with lower acidity, medium body and medium intensity. If you absolutely need that intense flavor, most Chardonnays will simply not cut it, but some styles do buck the trend like the wines of Chablis which are intense and flavorful.
The Finca Los Primos surprised me the most since the nose didn’t seem overly exciting. Once I had the first couple of sips, my attitude adjusted quickly, and I recognized that this Argentinian Chardonnay was light and fruity but also tangy and slightly zesty with a slight bump of acidity. You’re not getting a complex or deep wine here, but for $13 it really delivers value for your money. I especially enjoyed the lingering tangy flavors which stuck around on the tastebuds.
Tasting the Wolf Blass Yellow Label was a slight shock as well since I expected a medium to full-bodied wine (it is from Australia after all). However, I was greeted with a light, gentle Chardonnay with a slight edge of minerality. The Wolf Blass is beautifully restrained and while the flavors may not impact as intensely as the Finca Los Primos, it also makes for a fantastic sipping wine. There isn’t a lot to think about when tasting this wine but the flavors that are present are balanced incredibly well. Out of both wines, I would pick the Finca Chardonnay, but I can also recognize the quality of the Wolf Blass.
Since it has been such a hot week, I also relaxed with a few other beverages like the award-winning Skona Gold Kolsch Lager ($4.99/Can) from Alley Kat Brewing Company from Edmonton, Alberta. The Skona Gold is incredibly crisp and clean with a touch of bitterness (26 IBU’s) but also on the light side without losing flavor. This beer is a collaboration brew with District Brewing Company from Regina, Saskatchewan.
As a fan of sour beers, my heart leapt when I saw a Blackcurrant Lime Kettle Sour from Better Brothers Brewing Company (Saskatoon, SK) and I had to buy a 4-pack ($20 after tax). This beer has just the right amount of tartness and lime zip and while the blackcurrant flavor is there, its not quite as intense or deep in flavor as I had expected. With that being said, the 4-pack only lasted a few days and was incredibly refreshing when paired with salty snacks and a hot deck.
Finally, when I get time to slow down, I like to pour a high-quality glass of whisky and light up a great cigar. Some cigars or moods call for a hearty, smoky whisky from Islay or perhaps a sweet, fruity whisky from the Speyside region but every now and then, I get a hankering for a good drop from Ireland and the Tyrconnell Single Malt certainly hits the spot. As with all Irish single malt whiskies (a protected term), it is distilled in a copper pot, leading to flavors of toffee, apples and pears. Beautiful whisky at a great price ($55). Here are my wine picks of the week!
Finca Los Primos Chardonnay 2023: (Argentina). Dry to off-dry white, pale lemon color. The medium-intense nose is simple but delightful with apples, pears, hints of pineapple and citrus cream or lemon candies. On the palate, this Chard has a surprising amount of intensity (medium-plus) with a medium body and fruity notes of apple, pear and tangy lemon/citrus which buzzes on the tongue after the midpalate. The medium-length finish is zesty and tangy for a Chardonnay with plenty of citrus and zippy medium-plus acidity. Some floral notes hide under the fruit but what impresses is the medium-plus concentration which soaks into the tongue. For the price point, this was a delicious sipper! Good! $13, 12.9% ABV
Wolf Blass Yellow Label Chardonnay 2022: (Australia). Off-dry white, pale lemon color. The aromas of this wine can hardly be sensed while holding the glass at chest level but when brought to the nose, light notes of flinty mineral, apples and pears tickle with a subtle lemon tone. On the taste, the wine is medium-minus bodied with medium intensity and medium acidity. The flavors are all nicely focused if not somewhat delicate with a quick fruity midpalate (pears, apples and lemon) followed by a zip of cleansing acidity and mineral. The wine is very clean and crisp, leaning towards neutrality but I enjoy the switch up from the Argentinian Chard and could easily see myself sipping this on a hot day with light appetizers. A small touch of warming spice briefly pops up on the medium-length finish. Slightly more refined than the Finca Los Primos but the lacks its intensity and zippy edge. Good! $22, 13% ABV
Cheers and thanks for reading!
