Welcome to week 3 of the Virtual Tasting for Charity 2025
This is the 3rd year participating with a group of friends. Its always terrific to see everyone posting in these theads as it opens up our awareness of wines we wouldn’t otherwise think of. I know I learned a lot in our Pinot Grigio/Gris thread last year. I’m sure it will be the same this year with Chardonnay.
Theme: Chardonnay
The theme was chosen based on a friend’s Mom who passed this year. This is the 2nd year that one our group’s Mom has passed, and it helps when we can raise a glass in their memory and support a charity that they were close to.
Any chardonnay will do. Bubbles and blends are a yes as well.
Charity: Our Lady Queen of Peace, Maywood NJ
Our honoree was a devout member and supporter of the Parish
Donation -
$5 for each note, another $5 with a photo of you with the wine.
$500 total max
The virtual tasting is now open, so have at it!
Looking forward to your posts.
Does 36% Chardonnay counts? If yes then Krug 172, served on ANA First Class. Forgive me WB for I have sinned drinking champagne from a flute. I think that 172 is shut down right now, not as expressive as 169.
2022 Domaine Cottenceau Montagny 1er Cru Vigne du Soleil
Consumed from a Grassl Cru glass over several days. This was very closed down and somewhat reduced at first, with a fairly non-specific and uninteresting nose and palate the first couple days (barely a hint of yellow fruit peeking through the oak). Checked in today after 5 days in the fridge and the wine is in much better balance. Refined and delicate nose, lots of mineral depth underneath its white plum, gooseberry, and yellow floral aromas with a touch of spearmint. Medium-bodied, I like how well the creamy texture is balanced by its bright acidity to give it some buoyancy and grace on the palate. Just a touch of yellow stone fruit flavors standing in the background of chalky mineral notes that have a gentle persistence over a long finish. Really delightful.
The crown jewel of the Goodfellow portfolio shouldn’t need any introduction to domestic Chard fans. Drank over two days, I am really surprised at how well this is holding up. It is really fresh, light reduction, bright acidity, no noticeable oak, more minerals and saline than fruit, but still some yellow citrus in there. I should keep my eyes pealed for the 2023 release.
The sweatshirt is for Oregon wines and other stuff, not collage football.
Very good suggestion, Chris. Checked CT and it’s been almost 4 years since I last had a Richard’s Cuvée. That’s a grave error that I have to rectify. I’ll be on the lookout for the 2023 version as well. It is the crème de la crème of the Goodfellow Chardonnay offerings.
Thank God for DIAM corks! I had so many premoxed bottles of Fevre I gave up. Then they switched to DIAM and the beauty returned. This wine is still so fresh and bright at 13 years old it really is hard to believe. It’s starting to round off and display more grand cru gravitas, but mostly it’s still fun to drink, and that is a joy!
I’ll add a few more over the next couple of days but this the only photo of me I can muster! Sorry for your loss and here are to all chardonnay lovers to ever exist! What a lovely wine chardonnay can make.
**2022 Franz Chagnoleau Viré-Clessé ‘Les Raspillères’ **
Delightful. This scratches the Hubert Lamy itch for me but before WB goes on the offense I don’t think they are the same. Where it strikes me is in the savor and salinity. I crave wines like this. Savory, saline forward with plenty of lime, soil and matchstick. I love that it is at once reductive though void of too much wood. Yummy and for less than $40 it knocks the pants off of so many chardonnays and it also makes me wonder if more chardonnay tasted like this and cost this would we see a surge in interest for chardonnay. A bottle worth seeking out if you haven’t had the chance. Happy holidays everyone and cheers to you all.
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