Tasting - CH Chardonnay

Name: Cooper's Hawk Chardonnay
Variety of Grape(s): Chardonnay
Country of Origin: United States of America
Region of Origin: California
Vintage Year: 2024
Price: $19.99

Fourth in the lineup at the Cooper's Hawk Valentine's Day Tasting, I was looking forward to the Chardonnay. As of writing this, I would consider it my favorite style of wine, and I had been impressed by the Cooper's Hawk brand so far.

Nose: Buttered bread, yeast, grapes, ethanol

The nose was very simple, yet strong and appetizing. I got a strong sense of buttered bread and yeast followed by grape and a bit of an ethanol finish. Overall, nothing too out of the ordinary for a chardonnay, and it was about what I expected.

Taste: Buttery, grapey, ethanol, very fruity, melon, pineapple, apple, yeasty, creamy mouthfeel

The taste was very similar to the nose, followed by more complex flavors I didn't notice on the nose. Again, strong butter, grapes, and ethanol, but followed by a nice fruity medley of melon, pineapple, and apple. The yeasty flavors came back on the finish, but it was a very nice, slightly complex flavor profile that I enjoyed. The mouthfeel was very creamy and enjoyable and I did not want to finish sipping.

Wine Critic Review: From Odedi on Vivino.com (10,144 reviews and 7th in the US)

"A nice surprise. A nice Chardonnay from California. Nicely balanced with light oak and vanilla flavors. Citrus, limes, and grapefruits as well. Medium plus in body and soft. Very drinkable by itself. 85 points. 12.5% alcohol by volume."

I didn't totally agree with Odedi's flavor profile, but he seems to be pretty reputable, so I trust his judgement. Next time, I will search for more of the citrus notes and vanilla. I enjoyed this glass, and I rated it a 3.25/5. At this point, I began to notice the wine was beginning to build up in my stomach and I was curious to see how accurate my reviews would be for the next half of our tasting. Stay tuned to see how well my tastebuds lasted throughout this tasting of eight wines.