Ortman Family Vineyards of Paso Robles, under the direction of second-generation winemaker Matt Ortman, has released the O2 Series Sangiovese.
Today I turn my attention toward Ortman's O2 Series Chardonnay 2009. The younger Ortman has a tough act to follow here, as dad Chuck made his name with this variety - so much so that he earned the nickname "Mr. Chardonnay."
The O2 Series Chardonnay retails for $18, is 100% Chardonnay fruit of the Central Coast and carries an alcohol level of 14.2%. 959 cases of it were produced.
The wine shows a beautiful pale golden color in the glass with a lovely apricot nose. There’s a citrus zing right up front on the palate, and minerals to spare, which show just a hint of flintiness. A tropical-meets-cantaloupe flavor develops as the citrus zest begins to fade. The wine is anything but flabby, with an acidity that is lively even on the finish. There’s a touch of oak, but no more than that. That's not surprising, as the Ortman way with Chardonnay lets the fruit do the talking.
I paired the O2 Series Chardonnay with a delicious honey-baked squash that Denise whipped up on the spur of the moment. The acidity was more than enough for the vegetable, and the honey really hit some highlights in the wine which were brought forward deliciously. If there is anyone out there who still says "Anything But Chardonnay," they should try this one.
Today I turn my attention toward Ortman's O2 Series Chardonnay 2009. The younger Ortman has a tough act to follow here, as dad Chuck made his name with this variety - so much so that he earned the nickname "Mr. Chardonnay."
The O2 Series Chardonnay retails for $18, is 100% Chardonnay fruit of the Central Coast and carries an alcohol level of 14.2%. 959 cases of it were produced.
The wine shows a beautiful pale golden color in the glass with a lovely apricot nose. There’s a citrus zing right up front on the palate, and minerals to spare, which show just a hint of flintiness. A tropical-meets-cantaloupe flavor develops as the citrus zest begins to fade. The wine is anything but flabby, with an acidity that is lively even on the finish. There’s a touch of oak, but no more than that. That's not surprising, as the Ortman way with Chardonnay lets the fruit do the talking.
I paired the O2 Series Chardonnay with a delicious honey-baked squash that Denise whipped up on the spur of the moment. The acidity was more than enough for the vegetable, and the honey really hit some highlights in the wine which were brought forward deliciously. If there is anyone out there who still says "Anything But Chardonnay," they should try this one.
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