Wente Morning Fog Chardonnay – Afternoon Delight

100% Chardonnay from Livermore Valley, California.

SRP of $13 and available for as low as $10. Sample received courtesy Wente Vineyards for review purposes.

From the bottle:

“Wente Vineyards, established in 1883, was the first California winery to produce a wine labeled as Chardonnay from grapes grown on its Wente Clone. Today, many of the great Chardonnay vineyards in California are planted with the Wente Clone. Our Morning Fog Chardonnay is Estate Grown and sustainably farmed in the Livermore Valley, a region where vineyards are cooled by morning fog that rolls in from the San Francisco Bay, resulting in enhanced varietal character and crisp, natural acidity. This flavorful wine, with notes of apple and toasty graham, delivers a lingering, refreshing finish. Enjoy.

13.5% Alcohol”

Today’s wine is named for the morning fog that comes in off the San Francisco Bay all the way to the Livermore Valley. We’ve long been fans of wines made in this area, beginning with Concannon Vineyard but this is our first time tasting a wine from Wente.

The 2010 Wente Estate Grown Morning Fog Chardonnay begins with aromas of green apple, pear and a bit of toasty oak baked in a little cinnamon. Tasting the wine shows a nice, lightly creamy mouthfeel with good acidity and excellent balance between the fruit and the oak. It ends with a bit of butter along with a hint of minerality on the long finish. I’m not a huge fan of oaky Chardonnay, but this was quite good with its relatively light oak influence (50% French oak).

Buy this wine online from our featured sponsor Marketview Liquor or see a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.

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