Butter Chardonnay

Sanglier Chardonnay

Beef, Potatoes, w/Avocados & Tomatoes

I had posted a few years ago about how I was trying to find a different wine other than Cabernet to pair with a beef filet. 

I settled on a Pinot Noir that created a rant about how I wish more restaurants were BYOB….Anyhoo…I digress….

I got to thinking about this because I have a friend that loves Chardonnay and that evening I said that an oaky, full-bodied Chardonnay would be perfect.

So to prove I was right, I tried 2 Chardonnay wines with a bacon wrapped beef filet, rosemary – garlic potatoes and a salad of avocados and tomatoes drizzled in lime and olive oil.

The 2 Chardonnays were:

2010 Sanglier Sonoma Coast Chardonnay. alc. 13.9% and 2012 JAM Cellars Chardonnay Butter. alc. 14.8%

Sanglier smell was: Ripe apple, cream, a bit of white flowers and creme brulee

The taste was: Granny Smith apple, assorted melons and lemon. The acidity was long but finished slightly creamy.

It was great with the beef. It sort of cleansed the palate, but the beef did not over-whelm the wine. It was perfect with the 2 side dishes.

 Butter smell was: Apple pie – bread, butter and cinnamon

The taste was: Light Red Delicious apple, peaches, smoke, with a soft vanilla, butter finish. The finish was short but creamy.

This Chardonnay was good with the beef. It even added a sweetness to the bacon, which is always awesome!

It paired very well with both side dishes.

Both of these Chardonnays were very good with beef because of how they were processed and the high alcohol level.

Sanglier was done “Sur Lie” in oak barrels, which adds more body, aromas, and complexity to the wine.

Butter went through 2 fermentations, the last one being malolactic, which softens the tartness of the wine making it creamy with more body.

I think I will take my own advice, and just order a Chardonnay. It will simplify my choices and the side dishes won’t feel neglected.

I want to Thank Whole Foods for this Whole meal; including the wine.

I have been shopping there for years and this is the ONLY place where I get bacon wrapped filets. I’m a West Texas girl and my Daddy was a judge on the Texas A&M Beef Team…I better know beef!

Also, the wine department, at least at my Whole Foods in Plano, is so knowledgeable and enthusiastic about what they do…I feel like a kid in a candy store every time I go in to shop for wine.  Thank you Carol & your team!

I also want to Thank fellow Twisted Peep, Lisa S. for turning me onto Sanglier.

Cheers Y’all!

Lori – Your Twisted Sommelier