LCBO Sale Wine of the Week: March 21

OPI 2017 Chardonnay (Mendoza, Argentina)

Sale $9.95, Regular $10.95
Discount (until April 3): $1.00
LCBO #406934 | 750 mL bottle

Tastes like: Chardonnay in all its glory: apple, citrus, tropical fruits and vanilla. 'Nuff said.
Pairs with: White meats, salmon, lighter flavours like sautéed shrimp in butter, white pizza, creamy soups.
Good for: At $10? Who needs a reason?
Alcohol: 13.5%
Drink: Immediately.

Why we're drinking this
You know how it’s kind of “the thing” these days to say confidently “oh, I don’t like Chardonnay?” Which is weird, because Chardonnay is quite the chameleon. It’s not like saying “I hate Coca-Cola,” which you gotta respect because Coke is Coke. You don’t like it? Cool. But Chardonnay isn’t any one thing. It might be all apple and tangerine; it might be all lemon and buttered popcorn; it might be all flabby nutty blech; it might be a laser light show of mineral godliness. You don’t like any of those? Cool. Move on and try another. If you truly hate all Chardonnay, god(s) help you. There’s not much more joy to be found. Ergo, this little beauty from far-away Argentina. It’s all of the above, minus the Coke and the blech. You dig?

Tasting note
Pretty nose of fresh cut apple, some tropical fruits (mango, banana), a kick of lime, stewed apricot, a hint of vanilla and some wild flowers to maintain you in thrall. Seductive, yes. The attack is dry with bright acidity, delivering clean and crisp apple and all the good stuff your nose titillated you about. Plus some clove and orange creamsicle. There’s even a little nuttiness, for you nut lovers. A really nice clean and fresh medium-bodied wine (it’s 2017 after all) but with remarkable character and complexity at this price. The finish is a bit short, but who are we to quibble? It’s a good frickin’ wine. Serve it with salmon, trout, chicken, tacos, pizza or creamy veg soup – aim for medium flavours, nothing too rich or too fatty. But it’s no push over, as it does have some heft.

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