Michaud Vineyard Updates, Hearty Soups and Chardonnay Wine Pairings

November 8, 2012

News from Michaud Vineyard

Fall has returned, the vines are heading into dormancy, leaves are falling and the first rain of the season has arrived. In the cellar the wines are fermenting away, bubbling in their barrels. It has gotten a lot cooler, a time of year when a good soup is appreciated. We often think of red wine in the colder seasons, however Chardonnay is often a better accompaniment with vegetable, chicken or sea food soups. In my formative years, just getting introduced to wine, I had the great fortune to taste many great European wines and my favorites were from Burgundy. The wines of Burgundy, Chardonnay and Pinot noir, show at once grace, strength and complexity and a wonderful balance of all components. They also have the ability to age and become something more in the bottle. We often hear the white wines don’t age, well many don’t, but if you have ever had the pleasure of tasting 10, 15, 20 year or older Chardonnay from Burgundy or Chablis, then you know how exciting a bottle aged white wine can be.

One of the aspects of the white wines from the Chalone AVA is that they can age and develop for 10 – 20 years and not only retain fruit and acidity but develop subtle nuances and become a rewarding experience for those with patience. During my years as Chalone Vineyard’s winemaker, I had the opportunity to taste older Chardonnay, Chenin blanc and Pinot blanc. Some had hit their 20 year anniversary. They had become more interesting in many cases, than they were when they were first bottled.

Being mostly a one man band and quite busy with the farming and winemaking, I produced a bit more Chardonnay than I was able to sell. No worries, I knew it would just get better in the bottle!

Right now the 2002, 2003 and 2004 Michaud Chardonnay are in a superb state. We pour these in our Saratoga Tasting Room and people love them, especially those folks that say they don’t like Chardonnay! We also have a newsletter-only special offer so sign up for our newsletter today.

M4 Tasting Room News

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M4 Tasting Room
14598A Big Basin Way
Saratoga, CA 95070

Soup a great family project!

Carrot soup, Minestrone, Corn Chowder, Cream of Mushroom, Onion soup Gratinée, Pumpkin Soup, Vegetable soup, Tomato Cream soup, Leek and Potato soup, Stracciatella alla Fiorentina, Classic Deli Matzo Ball Soup, Japanese Miso Ramen with Sliced Pork and Egg, Greek Chicken and Lemon soup with Orzo, Steamed Clams in Garlic Seafood Broth, Cream of Shrimp, Consommé with Grilled Seafood, New England Clam Chowder, Provençal Fish Soup, Sherried Crab Bisque, Scallops å la Nage and Oyster Cream soup are some of the possibilities. I found recipes for these in Williams Sonoma’s Soups book or online at http://www.williams-sonoma.com/recipe/soups/vegetable-soups/?page=viewall

Don’t feel like cooking? There are some very good soups available at Trader Joe’s or your local specialty market.