Smoking Loon Chardonnay

Ah, yes… another chardonnay.  But I’m pleased to say that the chardonnay challenge is almost over.  I will soon move on to some other varietals, and I can’t wait.  Not that I mind chardonnay, I’m just more of a red wine guy and I need a change.

Also, before I get into this… sorry for the silence over the past couple weeks.  I’ve been doing a lot of traveling for my day job over the past three weeks and it’s kept me away from the blog.  I have had some great wine on the road, but it has been out of the price range for Cheap Wine Ratings.  I almost posted about it anyway, but when I couldn’t get a decent photo off the phone-camera I decided to nix the idea.

OK, enough jabber.  On to the Smoking Loon.

Smoking Loon is produced by Don Sebastiani & Sons, the same folks who create Pepperwood Grove, Aquinas Napa Valley and some other brands.  I’ve had decent experiences in the past with Pepperwood Grove and Aquinas, although they’ve not made my favorites list yet.  I have a hard time drinking the Aquinas brand without thinking about St. Thomas Aquinas, who as far as I can tell took the philosophy of Aristotle and re-branded it as Christian philosophy.  For some reason that just annoys me when I see Aquinas wines, but maybe that’s just me.

The Smoking Loon Chardonnay 2005 is a so-so chardonnay.  It doesn’t have any faults, but it’s nothing exceptional.  Standard commercial chardonnay on the nose. Really buttery palate, but not over oaky.  It has hints of vanilla, papaya and nectarine.  A rather short finish.

It’s interesting to see how they describe it: “sweet spring flowers, green tea, and a touch of fresh pineapple” on the nose.  I can give them the flowers and tea, but as hard as I try I can’t find any pineapple in it.  “The palate is framed by flavors of lemon meringue, fresh papaya, limestone, and subtle nuances of clove finishing with nectarine and light vanilla oak tones.”  They apparently want to convince you that it’s a lot more complex than I found it. 

Wine Enthusiast gave it an 84, I gave it an 83.  Basically the same.   It’s an OK chardonnay, but for $8.99 you can find better.

Wine: Smoking Loon
Varietal: Chardonnay
Alcohol: 13.5% 
Rating: 83