90+ Cellars 130 Chardonnay Russian

This Russian River Valley Chardonnay from 90+ Cellars is bottled at 13.5% ABV, a moderate strength for a California Chardonnay. The appellation sits in Sonoma County, where Pacific fog moves up the Russian River corridor and cools the vineyards overnight. That cooling tends to preserve acidity in the grapes, so wines from the area usually balance ripe orchard and citrus fruit with real freshness. Expect pear, yellow apple and lemon-citrus notes, possibly with a touch of tropical fruit. Any vanilla, toasted nut or butter character depends on how much oak and malolactic fermentation the producer used, and that detail isn't specified here. Styles from this region are typically medium to full in body, with a rounded texture and a clean, moderately long finish. Like all white wines, it has no meaningful tannin. Chardonnay is the main grape of Burgundy and the most widely planted white variety in the world. It takes on the character of its site and its winemaking more readily than most grapes. A cool-influenced Sonoma bottling like this one usually sits between the lean, mineral style of Chablis and the richer, riper Chardonnays of warmer California districts. That makes it a flexible bottle at the table. For food, the wine's weight and acidity suit rich seafood such as lobster, halibut or seared scallops, especially with drawn butter or a cream sauce. It also works with roast chicken, pork chops with apples, eggs benedict and roasted butternut squash. If this bottling leans toward the fresher end, crab cakes, prawns and mild curries are good matches. Soft cheeses such as brie or young Gruyère also pair well. Serve it lightly chilled, at about 10 to 13°C (50 to 55°F). Colder than that, the fruit and any oak character go quiet, and warmer, the wine can taste heavy and flat. It doesn't need decanting. If it seems tight when first poured, 15 to 20 minutes in the glass will open it up. A white wine glass with a moderately wide bowl, or a slightly larger Chardonnay-style glass, will give the aromas room to develop. This is a bottle to drink now or within the next few years. Wines of this kind are made for current enjoyment and aren't typically cellared for long-term aging.