Photograph by Kristen Boehm
JUGGERNAUT SONOMA COAST CHARDONNAY
The great white shark on the bottle label represents the resilience of the grapes that go into this wine. According to Juggernaut’s website, growing conditions on the Sonoma Coast frequently feature fog and intense wind, causing the grapes to ripen less sweetly. Their strong acidic structure withstands the winemaking process and prevails in the glass, leading to a well-balanced Chardonnay. Ironically, the result is a mild yet sophisticated crowd-pleasing wine, decorated by a fierce, lunging great white. We recommend keeping it around for parties and dinners, where the bottle art will make it all the more popular to diverse drinkers.
On the nose, Juggernaut Sonoma Coast Chardonnay has notes of apple blossom and mouth-watering fruit flesh. On the first sip, the acidity is there, but flavors of green apple and asian pear balance it out without being overly sweet. The barrel program for this wine has 86% of it fermented in French oak barrels, and 14% fermented in stainless steel, and you can taste that in the tang piercing through the other flavors. Finally, a soothing creaminess takes over, adding a touch of vanilla bean to the profile.
Food pairings: Pair this with smoky grilled mussels, flame-roasted salmon, lemongrass coconut noodles, and lemon meringue pie.
