2012 Carneros Highway Chardonnay

Norm's Tasting Notes

By: Norm Bentley

North Georgia Wine Advisor

normwine@bellsouth.net

2012 Carneros Highway Chardonnay

#nb-28-13

The Carneros region in southern Napa and Sonoma Counties has long been famous as an excellent growing area for the Chardonnay grape.  We recently had the chance to sample a Chardonnay from that heralded district, from a relatively new winery, whose wine maker comes with a name long heralded in the California wine industry.  Michael Sebastiani  has been making wine at the Highway 12 Winery since 2003, and we were pleased to taste the 2012 Carneros Highway Chardonnay, which is one of their latest offerings.

This Chardonnay is a little different in that the initial taste is best described as lemony.  Now, I do not mean a tart lemon flavor, nor is it sweet like lemonade, but it is lemony, and combines well with the additional presence of tropical fruit.  The wine is crisp and clean with a lingering finish, which mingles in the flavors of apple and a hint of peach.  It is pleasant, and is very food-friendly.

We enjoyed the Carneros Highway Chardonnay with a spicy chicken dish flavored with onions and peppers, from the creative kitchen of Miss Mary, the "Chardonnay Queen", whose culinary expertise is well known throughout the land.  Norm's score is 88.

Score: 88

Price: $16 - $20

Norm

Norm’s Tasting Notes can also be accessed at his blog: http://normwine.blogspot.com/

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