WineLovers Discussion Group

2011 Prieler "Sinner" Chardonnay, Burgenland, Austria

Slightly muted nose initially. Completely blossomed as the bottle warmed up. This is one you definitely don't want to drink too cold! It honestly gets better as it nears room temp. Golden apple, pear and toast on the nose. Ripe apple, bosc pear, and lemon meringue on the palate. Just the faintest hint of minerality. Velvet texture with meringue lingering through the long finish. 13.5% abv, stainless steel fermented, aged sur lie. Excellent value.

Joy Lindholm wrote:...This is one you definitely don't want to drink too cold! ...

That seems to be my experience with most Chardonnays. In fact, I consider Chardonnay to be the "reddist" of whites. Contrarily, I think of Gamay as the whitest of reds, as a bit of chilling usually helps it.

Howie Hart wrote:I think of Gamay as the whitest of reds, as a bit of chilling usually helps it.

I know people say that, but most of the gamay I drink is definitely not in need of a chill. Like tonight's gorgeous 2009 Coudert Cuvee Tardive.

Instead, I find that things like pineau d'aunis and grignolino benefit much more from chilling, even the 'serious' versions.

Howie Hart wrote:That seems to be my experience with most Chardonnays. In fact, I consider Chardonnay to be the "reddist" of whites.

Howie, this is something I never gave any thought to until I was in a wine store, when in walked a bunch of newly arrived Japanese guys from the nearby Japanese embassy in a state of major excitement, they wanted to buy the wine that tasted like "white merlot". They'd had it in a bar or restaurant. It took a bit of detective work for the shop guys to figure out they wanted chardonnay.