As I mentioned, we recently received a nice delivery of wine from Tesco. One of the wines in the “World Wine Tour Mixed Case” was a South African, Spencer Bay Chardonnay 2007.
The last time I enjoyed a Chardonnay was in 2004 when I was lucky enough to go to Australia. It was a marvellous Unwooded Chardonnay from Iron Gate Estate (Hunter Valley). We also had a wonderful Verdelho! I liked the Chardonnay because it was unwooded. There was too much oaking of Chardonnays in the early 00’s which, in my opinion, really destroyed the flavour of the wine.
With this in mind it was with trepidation I popped the Spencer Bay in the fridge. I had a quick search on the web and it seems that the wine may be an exclusive to Tesco. The only real info I got was from their website.
What our wine expert said…
“This smooth, creamy Chardonnay is packed full of delicious melon, pineapple and mango fruit, laced with finely balanced light oak. It has a fresh zesty dash of lime on the finish which adds to its charm and balance. Wonderful with smoked salmon, roast chicken or lunchtime salads.”
More info…
Storage instructions: This wine is ideal for drinking now but can be kept for up to 2 years
History: Inspired by the breaktaking scenery and cool blue ocean waters of nearby Spencer Bay, these wines epitomise purity, freshness and exhilaration. They come from the Western Cape, an area famed by horticulturalists for the amazing beauty and diversity of its flora, and near perfect conditions for making wine.
Winemaking details: Carefully selected perfectly ripe Chardonnay grapes are harvested at the peek of condition and then vinified in cool conditions to retain lots of fresh and natural fruit, followed by a short time in oak to further complement and enhance the flavours. Theresult is a wine packed full of soft melon and pineapple fruit, smooth yet with a fresh citrus and grapefruit tang on the finish.
Regional info: The grape harvest in this region begins before any other wine region in the world. They begin picking the grapes in early January, sometimes straight after Christmas!
So, how was it? My tasting notes tell me…
Wow, that’s actually nice! Very subtle oaking, light, fruity, tasty. Blimey!
Okay, I liked it then! This would make a great lunchtime drinking wine although it it quite strong at 13%. If you’re after something cheap, gluggable and tasty for a BBQ then this could be it. At the moment it’s available from Tesco for just £23 for 6 bottles! That’s an amazing £3.83 a bottle. For it’s surprising subtle fruitiness and good value, 4 stars!
Spencer Bay Chardonnay 2007
Grape: Chardonnay
Alcohol: 13%
Guide Price: ~£6 (currently £3.83 at Tesco)
I bought this wine at: Tesco (online)
ITs Food Rating: Four stars
