Terry post:For those of you who are not located in the mid-Atlantic region: we have been walloped with back-to-back-to-back snow storms which have put industry and individuals at a dead stop. For my brother in Iowa a 9" snow is not that unusual. It is VERY UNUSUAL in Maryland, where we don't usually get 9" of snow in an entire season. As of this morning we are somewhere around 40" of total accumulation over the past 2 and one half weeks. For God's sake: we are under a blizzard warning. Enough.
So what does one do when the government is closed and you are snowed in? Eat and drink!
Last evening I prepared a chicken-centric version of Beef Burgundy. The changes to the recipe are quite simple, really: replace the dry red wine with dry white wine and replace beef with a whole cut up chicken. What worked for Julia Child in 1950 with beef works for us today with chicken.
My white wine of choice was a 2008 Fat Bastard Chardonnay. The Fat Bastard brand is another example of a vin ordinare being repackaged as an entry-level wine for American consumers who choke on the pronunciation of French vowels. A few weeks ago I double-tasted a Red Bicyclette Chardonnay to disastrous results - undrinkable - so, my expectations were not all that high when I opened this similarly pedigreed wine.
My impressions: Vanilla and flowers immediately on the nose - nice. Full buttery mouth-feel with more acidity than I expect - even in a Chardonnay. Lively. The acidity is pronounced when new in the glass and becomes less impact-full as the wine warms. Vanilla (again) on the long finish. Wonderful.
The 2008 Fat Bastard Chardonnay was a perfect accompaniment to my "Chicken Burgundy" having the backbone to stand up to richly sauced bird. The steeliness of acidity softened somewhat as the wine warmed, and the Fat Bastard remained a desired dining companion throughout. Highly recommended.
100% Chardonnay.
$8.99 at the Dover AFB package store.
~ Terry
Do they sell it in California? I would like to try it although I do not like Chardonnay too oaky. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteHello "Anon",
ReplyDeleteThe wines are distributed in California and should be relatively easy to locate.
Here is the link to CA distributors: http://www.fatbastardwine.com/find-our-wines.php?dState=CA
Like you, and until very recently, I was an avowed anti-chardonnite! I grew completely tired of the giant butter bombs laced with mouth-drying oak (could have been plywood), but...big BUT, I re-tried them recently and was very pleased. Try the unoaked versions of Chardonnay to pick up on the fruitier side of this lovely grape. Read the back issues of Two Wine Brothers for some exemplars.
Let us know what you think too.
Happy Tastings,
Brad