Alex Elman Chardonnay - Unoaked and Organic

Can an organic Chardonnay from a brand new label compete? (Chardonnay Showdown post #3.)

100% unoaked Chardonnay from Argentina. New release available in July 2011 with an SRP of $13 that should have wide availability at around $11. Sample received courtesy the winemaker for review purposes.

From the bottle:

"Alexandra Elman believes in honest wines. Wines which are true to the soil and climate of their places of origin. Alex, an international wine expert, lost her sight in 1995, but that has not stopped her from traveling the world finding exceptional and sustainable wines that are meant to be enjoyed everyday as a celebration of life.

This refreshing unoaked Chardonnay is well balanced, crisp and clean with lemony butter notes. This wine is perfect for sipping alone or with salads, light meats and cheeses. 14% Alcohol."

This is a brand new label launching nationally next month with four wines to start, all from Argentina: A Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Torrontés, and this Chardonnay. We will be reviewing the other three wines as well but since we're in the midst of the Chardonnay Showdown series, that variety gets to go first!

The 2010 Alex Elman Organic Chardonnay exhibits pleasing aromas of citrus, hay, and some butter notes although it doesn't taste as buttery as it smells. It does taste of citrus and green apple but there's not quite as much flavor as I was expecting based on the nose. I would have guessed this wine had seen at least some oak. The wine tastes a bit thin but is easy to drink. The finish is short.

The bottom-line? A relatively simple wine that is not overly fruity, but I felt a little bit of a letdown when tasting it based on the nose and then a little bit more of a letdown based on the finish. It tasted similar on day 2.

See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.