I tried the Beringer 2006 Private Reserve Napa Valley
Chardonnay last time, and I found that wine not good on many
different levels, but a true oenophile would still see if
the next thing up their ladder did them justice... the only
thing that I can say is that it did not.
The first time that I tried this, the bottle was cooked;
spoiled, rotten, just rank. I had two other people try it
and they are the ones that clued me in; Actually, stupid me
should have known it all along, but that's why I like second
opinions.
The color of this wine is a nice grade of a golden yellow
reminiscent of a dark straw color.
The taste it both woody (reminded me of slightly charred
oak, and very vegetal; you can translate this as grassy).
It has an overpowering smoky component as well, which makes
me wonder if this wine was on it's way to being bad, or
whether or not the winemaker went for this. This is not
necessarily a bad taste, but it is something that deserves
some respect and with the extremely long finish on this
wine, I would say that it is really devoid of fruity
aspects, but it should be noted that not all wines have
fruity aspects.
As I just received a phone call and was on the phone for
at least five minutes, I have observed the texture of this
wine as represented by what people call its 'legs.' This
wine is an Amazon! It was still drifting it's dregs back
into the bottom of the glass and had a good two minutes left
in it's journey.
I am going to relent and give this wine a 10. It's not
my ideal type of Chardonnay, but I am respecting it fully.
I might also add that the alcohol content on this wine
will definitely make you savor it for it's depth; it's not
some namby-pamby average release. Good show Sbragia!
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