A South African Unoaked Chardonnay

A South African Unoaked Chardonnay: A South African Unoaked Chardonnay
A kosher Chardonnay? ...

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Wine Reviewed
Backsberg Chardonnay 2009 13.5% alcohol about $13

Let’s start by quoting the marketing materials. Description: Backsberg Estate has been producing fine wines since 1916. This unoaked Chardonnay is fresh and lively with lots of peach and melon fruit flavors leading to a long, creamy, soft finish. Enjoy alongside roast chicken with cinnamon, apricots, and apples; or pair it with salmon croquettes. And now for my review.


At the first sips this wine was elegant, almost ethereal, and slightly carbonated. The first meal was a quite dry honey and garlic barbecued chicken breast. In response the wine’s acidity stepped up. There were light fruits and later some honey. A moister barbecued chicken wing sharpened the Chardonnay’s acidity and I tasted white peaches. When it accompanied potatoes roasted in chicken fat, the wine showed delicious acidity and I tasted honey and lemon. In the presence of Moroccan style carrots with cumin and sliced green olives the wine may have been elegant but its fruit was cut short. Its pairing with fruit juice candy was fairly nondescript, but the Chardonnay maintained its acidity.

This review of a South African Chardonnay continues on my website.