EGRET 2005 Chardonnay

From the Winery
Egret Chardonnay displays the crispest, fruitiest, most unadulterated flavors of our vineyard thanks to stainless steel fermentation and only a mild hint of oak. Quite simply, this is Chardonnay in its purest, cleanest form - as all of the flavors come directly from our Los Carneros vineyard.

This wine honors the Great White Egret, now predominant in Sonoma County. These magnificent birds were hunted to near extinction in North America for their pure white plumes during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Populations have recovered since they were protected by law. The Great Egret is now the symbol of the National Audubon Society.

UPDATE (Jan 2007)
This wine has won a GOLD Medal at the 2007 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

Tasting Notes
This wine shows bright aromatic tropical fruit, with green apple and citrus flavors. It is eminently refreshing and cleanses the palate with each sip. We highly recommend pairing this wine with sharp cheeses, antipasta, and fresh seafood (particularly shellfish like prawns or oysters and clams on the half-shell). It is also a natural compliment to lighter fare and spicy cuisine.


Composition 100% Chardonnay from the Catherine Bonneau vineyard
Appellation Sonoma Carneros
Harvested October 15, 2005
Alcohol 14.4%
Fermented in 100% Stainless steel
Aged for Sur lie aged 10 months
Production 1050 cases
Released December 2006
Awards GOLD MEDAL at 2007 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
Member Reviews

Wow, I loved this! Definition of bright and crisp...

 brittanydean

Wow, I loved this! Definition of bright and crisp, with a wonderful acidity that really did make my mouth water. It was bursting with fruit, but it also has this silky, luxurious texture to balance it all out. I loved that it wasn't oaky and buttery, yet still had a super rich taste that just wouldn't go away. Awesome finish. Lot of bang for your buck here!

Luxuriously Silky and Creamy-Smooth

 marshall

I usually pass on chardonnay but my girlfriend recommended I try this one. My mouth watered when I caught its aromas of granny-smith apples, so I took a sip and I definitely was not disappointed! Such a luxuriously-silky and creamy-smooth mouth-feel. Tastes like tropical fruit, and makes my mouth water just like it. I am in rare form with this unique chardonnay -- I keep wanting to drink more and more and more...

EGRET WINES has scored high again at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Judging Contest held in Cloverdale, CA. For the third year in a row and since we've been competing, every wine we have entered has received a Silver Medal or better!

We compete with 1,500 wineries from all over the United States. There were over 4,200 wines entered this year.

This is the LARGEST COMPETITION of American Wines in the World!

Sixty professional wine judges representing trade, education, media, retail and restaurants throughout the United States evaluated the best wines made in America. Five judges rate each wine in over fifty categories.


Please join us Thursday evening, January 24, 2008 from 6-9PM or Saturday, January 26, 2008 to taste our prize winning Zinfandels at ZAP (Zinfandel Advocates & Producers) at Herbst Pavilion, Fort Mason Center, San Francisco, Marina Blvd, at Buchanan. Go to www.zinfandel.org for details.

and

Join us on Saturday, February 16, 2008 from 2-5PM to taste our Gold Medal winning Chardonnay at the annual SF Chronicle Wine Competition Public Tasting, Herbst Pavilion, Fort Mason Center, San Francisco, Marina Blvd, at Buchanan. Go to www.winejudging.com for details.

or

Email: vintner@bonneauwine.com

IT WAS A SULTRY MID-SUMMER NIGHT

It was a typical simmering August. Temperatures rose above 90 degrees during the day, and we were inspired to cool ourselves down. So THE TASTING PANEL magazine and the Orange County Wine & Food Center, along with Hi Time Wine Cellars in Costa Mesa, California, conjured up Dionysus for a heady evening of summer delights: wine, cocktails and gourmet food.

EGRET's 2005 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon makes the Chronicle's Wine Selections $50 or less list!

Click here for the article!

The indoor-outdoor event was white-washed with global sips of aromatic and fruity, mineral-rich and opulent Riesling, Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc, innumerable styles of Chardonnay and other unique offerings.

Publisher Meridith May (MM), Managing Editor David Gadd (DG) and our newest contributor, Marlene Rossman (MR), provide color commentary as we sail into September, our palates revived and refreshed.

Among many familiar faces there were also a few newcomers on the scene. One was Bonneau Wines, a Sonoma grower-turned-producer that wowed guests with a couple of stunning Chards. Their second label 2008 Egret Chardonnay (SRP $18) showed loads of Carneros-sourced class and style, with true varietal character and perfect poise. –DG