2023 Willia Creek Cellars Chardonnay

Trader JoesTJ TuesdayChardonnay
Written By Catherine Courtney

2023 Willia Creek Cellars Chardonnay

GRAPES: Chardonnay

VINTAGE: 2023

REGION: Willamette Valley, Oregon

ALCOHOL PERCENTAGE: 13.1%

PRICE: $12.99

I’m coming off an absolutely wonderful weekend. The kind of weekend that leaves you both inspired and content. I spent Saturday exploring the Antiques and Garden Show of Nashville (if you are in the Nashville area and have never visited, this is your sign. Too many beautiful things to mention.), lingering over beautiful finds and thoughtful displays, and now I am settled in watching the Golden Globes red carpet unfold. It’s a lovely blend of classic elegance and cinematic glamour, and truly a perfect way to close out the weekend.

Tonight’s bottle is Willia Creek Cellar Chardonnay, hailing from Oregon’s Willamette Valley, a region better known for its Pinot Noir than its Chardonnay. This wine is fermented and aged entirely in stainless steel, avoiding the heavy oak and buttery characteristics that are often found in many traditional California Chardonnays.

So without further ado, let’s jump into the tasting details, shall we?

Tasting Notes:

  • Pale-Medium Straw hue

  • It’s a fruit-forward forecast: Expect high notes of lemon, a crisp apple snap in the air, and gentle melon moods drifting in at dusk.

  • Bright with crisp, refreshing acidity that lingers slightly

Verdict:

Friends, this is a bottle that’s worth picking up at Trader Joe’s. It’s easy to drink, versatile, and drinks well above the $12.99 price point. Because it’s unoaked, the wine showcases the pure expression of Chardonnay grown in the cooler climate of the Willamette Valley, making it especially appealing to those who prefer fresh, unoaked white wines. The last things you’ll find are oakiness and buttery notes. This bottle has refreshing acidity and lovely fruit flavors that make it enjoyable on its own or with food. This pairs well with an herb-roasted chicken, a rich, decadent cheese, or seared scallops. If you grab this bottle, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Drop them in the comment box below!

Until Next Time!

Disclaimer: All wines mentioned in this post were purchased independently. I am not an agent or representative of Trader Joe’s and cannot assist individuals in sourcing or obtaining wines featured in my posts. All opinions shared are my own and based on personal experience.

Catherine Courtney

Welcome to Blonde Voyage Nashville!

I am so excited to finally see this dream become a reality.  Between the destination restaurants, the copious amount of food photos and insanely crazy travel stories, I have decided to share my journey. 

My name is Catherine Courtney and I am a Nashville native with a penchant for culinary creativity and epic travel adventures. I'll admit... I also have a slight obsession with handbags.

Two years ago, my life changed completely.  Everything that I knew to be was completely turned upside down.  I quickly realized that time is our greatest commodity and it's not to be taken for granted. I couldn't wait for the perfect time, who knew when that would be.  I needed to take the leap and explore the world on my own.  There were so many places I wanted to go, but where would I start. 

France was always one of those places that I had romanticized.  Wandering the streets of Paris and seeing the Eiffel tower were at the top of my list. Without hesitation, I booked a two week trip to the French Rivera and Paris.  It was a journey of a lifetime.  Not only were amazing friendships cultivated, but it was on that trip that i discovered that food and travel are the embers that that keep my soul on fire. 

It wasn't until I arrived back in Nashville with my passport that I realized I had been bit. Wanderlust had completely taken over.  I already started thinking about where I wanted to go next.  It was then that I decided that it was more important to have camera full of photos and a tattered journal full of stories than anything else. My heart was overflowing.

One of my favorite quotes that resonates is from Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland:

"Actually, the best gift you could have given her was a lifetime of adventures...."

Join me as I explore near and far away places, filling my passport full of stamps and satiating my appetite with some of the most amazing cuisine the world has to offer. 

Thanks for reading! 

       

 

 

http://blondevoyagenashville.com
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