“The wines that one best remembers are not necessarily the finest that one has ever tasted, and the highest quality may fail to delight so much as some far more humble beverage drunk in more favorable surroundings.”
H. Warner Allen
TeamWine ushered in the New Year on a Sunday afternoon in October. We met at EJ’s Wine Shop and celebrated with two lovely wines that we felt would help you usher in a new year. Both wines are easily accessible, priced very reasonably, and will start January off on a good note.
The white we tasted was Aldi’s 2021 The Exquisite Collection – Chardonnay. (Aldi’s 12.7% abv, $8.99). This is our second Aldi’s wine and this one I picked up on a whim. It turned out to be surprisingly good. The wine had a pale straw color with aromas of lemon grass, white peach, green apple and white flowers. The medium body produced lovely legs down the glass when swirled. The mouthfeel was soft and easy on the palate. Flavors of lemon bar, tropical fruit and fresh cut pear came through, though some were light. Vanilla spice was evident on the delightful creamy finish. Acid was high, especially toward the back of the palate, but it was not unpleasant. We suggest this wine would be nice with a summer or first-course salad. It would pair with pasta with a light cream sauce, or maybe even a black bean taco. A very versatile wine!
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