Eden Rift 2018 Estate Chardonnay
“Delicate” isn’t always the first word that comes to mind when you think of chardonnay. Some chardonnays are light, crisp and acidic, some are big butter bombs. The goal is always to get it just right, and Eden Rift, a relatively new California winery on land with a long grape-farming history dating back to 1849, gets it right. They get it delicate.
This chardonnay straddles the creaminess and buttery notes with bright acidity and minerality to create tension between the two. They used three different chardonnay clones (4, 76 and Calera, if you really want to know), and, yes, within each clone there are nuanced differences that impact the wine.
The bottom line, of course, is taste. With this expressive wine you’ll find lemon verbena and kaffir lime, with back notes of butterscotch and caramel, papaya and guava. There is enough creaminess to make it enjoyable to drink, and enough acidity and minerality to make it a friendly partner with food. And ultimately, that’s what a wine should be–part of the meal, be that lunch or dinner. Food pairing is pretty easy: red curry, Cobb salad, chicken fettuccini Alfredo; or with a snack, try chili con queso with tortilla chips.
ORIGIN: Cienega Valley, San Benito County
ALCOHOL: 14.3 percent
PRICE: $42 (750 ml)
SCORE: 90 points
