TASTING - BILTMORE CHARDONNAY

 

 

Biltmore Estate Chardonnay

Varietal (100% Chardonnay).

Asheville, North Carolina, United States

2023

 $14.99 USD

 

 

"Yellow straw color. Aromas and flavors of apple, pear, white flowers, and vanilla cream with a round, vibrant, dryish medium body and a tingling, breezy finish revealing suggestions of apple and pear, lemon, honey wheat, and flint smoke with a suggestion of oak flavor. Easy going and crushable white wine that brightens the palate but allows other flavors to shine through. ." -Jerald O'Kennard

 

 

1. According to Wine Folly, Chardonnay is a versatile white grape known for its wide range of styles, depending on climate and techniques. In America's warmer regions—like parts of California and the South—Chardonnays produces riper fruit notes like pineapple, mango, and yellow apple. (Wine Folly - The Comprehensive Guide to Chardonnay).
2. Chardonnay wines produced North Carolina’s moderate-to-warm climate, tend to highlight rich tropical fruit flavors balanced with hints of toasted oak and a smooth, round mouthfeel. These characteristics reflect the grape’s classic profile when aged in oak and matured in a warmer growing region.(Wine Folly - United States Wine Region).

 

 

 Personal Review

Back in 2020 before the COVID-19 Pandemic, I visited the Biltmore Estate. The fields of sunflowers were spectacular, and the location had the most stunning countryside I have ever seen. Trying this Biltmore Estate Chardonnay brings me back to that Spring, and it really surprised me in the best way. Right from the first pour, I noticed the beautiful golden color—most likely a sign it spent some time in oak. The nose had this warm blend of ripe apple, a bit of pineapple, and a soft vanilla creaminess that reminded me of some baked apple pie.

Palate-wise, it was rich and smooth without feeling too heavy. I got a lot of buttery notes, which I personally love in a Chardonnay, as it is balanced by just enough acidity to keep it from being too soft. There was also this subtle toasted oak character that added a nice depth—like a gentle nuttiness.

What I appreciated most was how balanced it felt. It didn’t lean too far into being overly buttery or overly fruity—it just rode that perfect middle. 

 

I did not pair this with food.