Wine of the week: Toad Hollow Chardonnay 2009
by Wine Curmudgeon Posted On
The late Todd Williams always took pride in being just a little bit different. This was a Sonoma winemaker, after all, who had Missouri nortons in his wine cellar.
So, in 1993, when he made 3,000 cases of unoaked Toad Hollow chardonnay, the wine world probably chalked it up to his eccentricity. Who would make an unoaked chardonnay for $10 and expect to be taken seriously when California was famous for expensive, heavily oaked chardonnays?
This vintage of the chardonnay ($15, sample) continues the winery’s tradition of quality wine at a fair price. No, it’s not $10 any more, but it still has lots of green apple fruit, a long mineral finish, and not a hint of oaky or toasty. It’s a wine you can keep in the refrigerator during the holidays in case anyone drops by, and it will also work well with all sorts of holiday leftovers or Chinese takeout.
The winery has also gone to screwcaps (wonder what Todd, a cork man, would think of that?), so let this sit for 10 minutes or so after you take the top off. It will improve the flavor markedly.
To go with the wine of the week I’ll add the wine ‘buy’ of the week for those in D/FW. Central Market has put their Avalon Napa Cab on sale for 9.99. Buy six and get them for the felonious price of 9.00 ea. Headed down there right now.
Thanks Jeff for your wonderful blog.
Thanks for the tip! Heading there for lunch.