Element Winery, Chardonnay 2011, Finger Lakes, New York

Tasting Note: A chardonnay that is not for everyone; wine geeks gather round.

If you tasted this wine blind, you might not guess it is a chardonnay at all because it tastes like something entirely different, and yes – this turns out to be entirely good in this case.

This golden-colored chardonnay has an unusual sour nose of canned white peaches, under-ripe nectarine, red and green apple and dried mango.

On the palate the dry white feels round with green, limey, minerally, tartness lying just underneath the circumference of roundness.

There is mid-to-back palate complexity with tartness and green fruit battling for supremacy all the way through to the ultimately-victorious, long, sour finish that rides on a cloud of medium-plus acidity.

Certainly an expression of the grape that is both interesting and unusual; wine geeks would especially enjoy this wine which would make a perfect wine to serve blind to “stump the wine geek” who may be hard pressed to guess the grape varietal.

Bottle Note: Element Winery was founded to explore cool climate terroirs, to produce wines which express their origins without preconceived notions. Delicate wines, balanced with a focus on mineral and floral aromas and high acids using a minimalist approach that allows the grapes to speak for themselves. Dedicated to producing small quantities of wine we love. Master Sommelier Christopher P. Bates & Robert W. Bates. 60 cases & 24 magnums produced.