Carmel Road - 2006 Chardonnay

Years ago, before I could drink, my family visited a little seaside town in California called Monterey. At the time, my parents were just seriously getting into wines, and this area was not mainstream for good wines. Now, so many great wines come from the Salinas Valley and Carmel Valley in Monterey County. The cool Pacific air limits the types of grapes grown in this region, but over half of the grapes grown in this area are those used to make Chardonnay.

This week's favorite: 2006 Carmel Road Chardonnay
$16, Found at your local grocery or wine store

This Chardonnay is a beautiful mix of a fruity white wine with a true oak finish. It is smooth, with bright notes of citrus and floral flavors in the initial taste, and perfectly buttery in color. It ends with a mild, buttery oak flavor that makes it a chardonnay worth coming back to.

This chardonnay is best served with grilled white fish, such as black grouper or tilapia. Baste the fish in a mixture of 2 Tbsp of butter, 2Tbsp of lemon juice, and 1 Tbsp of garlic, with a pinch of salt and pepper before grilling. As a great topping, I like to combine 2 Tbsp of feta cheese, kalamata olives, sliced grape tomatoes, 1 Tbsp of lemon juice, 1 Tbsp of extra virgin olive oil, and a dash of garlic salt. Mix, and pour over fish fillet before serving. Pour yourself a nice glass of Carmel Road and enjoy the butter and citrus flavors of the meal!