 Serving Chardonnay
Serve Chardonnay in glasses suited to occasion, circumstances
and wine. To focus attention on the wine, serve Chardonnay
in a stemmed wine glass, with a bowl large enough to allow
you to swirl it (so its aroma is easier to smell).
Younger
Chardonnays can be served in tulip-shaped glasses;
older, mature versions in wider, slightly broader-bowled
glasses to accentuate the wines' subtlety and flavor complexity.
The best temperature range for enjoying Chardonnay
is cool or chilled (55-60 degrees Fahrenheit, 12.7-15.5 degrees
Celsius), not iced, since low temperatures numb the wine's
aromas and flavors.
Aging Chardonnay
Most Charonnays are at their best within five years of the
vintage, when their fruitiness is most evident. Only very
crisp, well balanced, and/or concentrated Charonnays should
be considered for long-term aging (10-20 years). As they
age, Chardonnays soften in texture and become more subtle
and intergrated in smell and taste (they acquire "bottle
bouquet")- which makes describing them more of a challenge. |
