Walnut Crest Chardonnay
Winery: B.V.S.E, Chile
Style: Dry White
Year: 2003
Price Range: 1.75 L- $7.99 and up.
Rating: 7.5/10

The first time I sampled Walnut Crest chardonnay it had just been introduced to the US market and was promotionally priced at $5.99 a mag. My wine merchant recommended it as a great bargain. I misread the lable, thinking Mapo Valley was Napa Valley. Wow! A California chard for six bucks. Later when I took a closer look and realized this was a Chilean wine, I was clearly disappointed. Until my first glass. It was exactly the style of chardonnay I preferred and it became my house white for a few years, But over time the quality fell and the price rose. I went elsewhere.

Recently, out of curiosity, I decided to resample the wine. The price was still very reasonable by today's standards, $7.99, though I've been told it can be priced as high as $12.99 in Manhattan. The vintage year on the label was 2003 and it seems the area of production is now Casablanca Valley. This is the third time I remember it changing.

Evidently the move to Casablanca Valley grapes was a good one. The stuff coming out of Rapel Valley was pretty awful...or perhaps it's the year. In any event, this is a pretty good wine for the money. Very close to the old Walnut Crest as I recall it. 75% of the wine is fermented in stainless-steel tanks which accounts for the fruit forward flavor. This is not a very oaky chard, which to me is a good thing, and the balance between sugar and acidity is nice. Medium bodied and not as sweet as most Australian chardonnays, this one pairs well with light foods and mildly flavored hors d'oeurves. It's a good buy and because of its distributor, Banfi, it can be found in most stores.


Bubba