We’re all for experimentation in the alcohol world, some of us may have even done some mixing we aren’t super proud of back in the day, but we never thought we’d see the union of liquor and wine on the market.
Robert Mondavi wines has brought together California winemaking and the southern customs of barrel aging bourbon with the release of their Bourbon Barrel-Aged Chardonnay. It’s natural to experience a lot of emotions after reading that so let us break it all down for you.
The process begins as it would for any other wine: the grapes are picked when perfectly ripe, turned into wine, blended and sent off to age for nine months in aged American oak barrels. Now, this is where things get interesting. After the nine months are up, some of the wine is aged for another two months in both new and used bourbon barrels. These barrels contribute their own unique flavor profiles to the wine. From the new barrels the wine gets richness, depth and toasty notes while the barrels infused with bourbon from a distillery in Kentucky contribute baking spice and hints of vanilla on the nose.
This isn’t the first time the Robert Mondavi crew has experimented with combining the wine and spirits worlds. Back in 2016 the winery released their Bourbon Barrel-Aged Cabernet Sauvignon which was so successful it lead to the inception of the Bourbon Barrel-Aged Chardonnay.
We haven’t tried the wine ourselves but you can expect the golden yellow Chard to taste of ripe pineapple, juicy peach and toasted oak giving an overall incredibly bold sensory experience,” says Jason Dodge, Director of Winemaking at Robert Mondavi Private Selection. If you find yourself drinking this unique Chard, the winery suggests English cheddar, roasted pork tenderloin and shrimp scampi as food pairings that complement the wine.
