An Unexpected Gift….
Did you see the movie “Finding Forrester” starring Sean Connery? This 2000 film was great…with Connery at the top of his game. Connery plays William Forrester, a recluse shut-in who years before wrote the “Great American Novel.”
In the film, Forrester befriends a local youth. In one scene, Forrester offers advice on how to win the love of a woman – something he’s actually never done. But the advice was solid: “The key to a woman's heart is an unexpected gift at an unexpected time,” he told his student.
And I believe the same is true with wine. When I find and experience a wine that is unexpectedly good, it quickly wins my heart. I say ‘unexpectedly’ not because I had any prior experience with the wine…. I did not. And probably for that reason, when I first tasted this wine I was very, very impressed.
I’m speaking of the 2008 ‘Estate Chardonnay’ from Riverbench Vineyard in the Santa Maria Valley. Riverbench has done an excellent job balancing this tasty Chard with just enough oak to keep the crisp fruit flavors, well, crisp, while still offering a subdued smooth, pallet-pleasing finish of subdued oak. The Riverbench winemaker, Chuck Ortman, describes it this way: “The Chardonnay fruit always had peach and nectarine characteristics and honey to it. It is real rich, not citrusy.”
You’re probably wondering if ‘citrusy’ is a word. Turns out it is!
Riverbench has 420 acres of vineyard, claiming they owe much of their fruit’s flavor to the vineyards location (southeast edge of the Santa Maria Valley) and their sandy, gravelly soil. Whatever the reason, I can tell you they make a great Chardonnay. And it’s a great value at $26.
So, if you’re looking for a few bottles of Chardonnay value contact Riverbench. Phone number: (805) 937-8340. Be sure to tell ‘em Two Masters Wine Club sent you!
Oh…and as a special “Thank You” for reading my very first wine blog, the first 10 people to comment on this blog entry will receive, courtesy of Two Masters, their very own bottle of the 2008 Riverbench Chard! So let me know you’re out there!
Terry Liebman
March 1, 2011
