Robert Mondavi Private Selection Chardonnay 2011

I don't have a lucky seat., like the guy in the TV commercial, to root for the 49ER's on Super Bowl Sunday, but I did stay with my New York wines last year during the two pre-game media hype weeks, and the Giants did win. This year, my teams didn't make the playoffs and my pick lost in the first game, so I began to root for the Niners.  In doing this, I feel obligated to continue pouring California wines until the 3rd of February.  I began by serving a Ghost Pines Red Blend for the Conference Championship games.

Today, I uncorked a very nice Robert Mondavi Private Selection Chardonnay 2011 with a composition of 96% Chardonnay. 2% Thompson Seedless, 1% White Riesling and1% Gewürztraminer. All of the grapes for the 2011 Chardonnay came from vineyards in the Central Coast American Viticulture Area (AVA), with 89% from Monterey County.  I received this wine for review from the Robert Mondavi Winery.

Aromas were real pleasant with lots lemon zest and green apple.  The mouth filled with the lemony citrus, some nectarine and very light toast and buttery vanilla ending in a medium to long buttery like finish. I opened this wine for a glass in the early afternoon and then paired nicely with a garlicky chicken stir fry.

Chardonnay's have always been tough for me.  I find many are too buttery or creamy or even spicy at times in oaked Chards. I did not find that at all in this wine which was aged for 10 months in oak.  The Robert Mondavi Private Selection Chardonnay is balanced very nicely and I very much enjoyed the light oak notes.  What is even nicer is the price.  The suggested retail is $11, but I found on line for as low as $8 with most outlets between $9 and $10 making this a remarkable value.  Very Highly Recommended