Quails' Gate Estate Winery Chardonnay 2011
Tasting note:
Natalie's tasting note, score, food pairings and recipes for this wine
Reviewed January 19, 2013 by Natalie MacLean
More Reviews
Opinions about wine differ greatly as the experience is subjective. You may find it helpful to compare this critical evaluation of the wine with mine as well as your own:
 | Beverly Crandon rated this wine as 94/100 with the following review:
On colour, this Chardonnay holds a pale straw hue, and it isn’t until you nose this beauty that you start to get a sense of what you are in store for. The scents alone are enough to make your mouth water as it is filled with smells of green apple, citrus, some spice and light oak. On the palate, you are met with tastes of melon, honey, with a creamy, buttery long finish. One of the things that also made this wine stand out for us on the palate is that though the fermentation process included some barrelling (50% tank, 50% barrel), the oak elements were lightly present and not overbearing, allowing all of the wines elements to be noticed and appreciated. |
 | Lori Kilmartin rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:
This was a favourite with my wine tasting ladies! A bouquet of popcorn, buttery and smokey with hints of sweet oak. Tasted smooth and had a long big finish. A great appetizer match with this wine was Stilton cheese with ginger! Buy it and try it!! |
 | Kristin Perrin rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:
Am I in Burgundy? Or B.C.? Pears. Apples. SMOKEY MINERALITY coming out of the Yin-Yang on the nose! Even with a Grapefruit-Pith palate and some of the lovely fruits mentioned above, this lovely B.C. Chardonnay possess an amazing creaminess which coats your mouth with unbelievably balanced acidity! I snacked on some 3 Year Aged Balderson Cheddar while sipping this beauty; Creamy meets Tangy on a whole new level ;) |
 | Joe Hache rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:
#ONtastesBC - This Chardonnay rocks. Hints of vanilla. Lightly oaked and buttery with citris at the front and middle with a long finish. Very eloquently balanced! @Quails_Gate |
 | Courtney Flood rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:
A lucious Chardonnay without being overpowering. Toasty coconut, vanilla, lemon. Lemon curd flavour and feels as rich on the palate |
 | Holly Bruns rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:
Ripe pear and yellow apple with a touch of spice on the nose; the medium body is balanced with some lemony acidity on the palate and the long, butterscotch-tinged finish makes this wine a great deal. |
 | Dan Trcka rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:
The 2011 Quails' Gate Chardonnay is a medium bodied, fruity to integrated wine, with intense aromas of buttery oak, bacon, nutmeg and yellow pear. It has a checked acidity and a long, oak-heavy finish. This wine is a sipper, but if served with salty/acidic foods, it will fare well; drink now or cellar for 2-5 years. My impression: NICE to BEAUTIFUL, 90 pts - recommended buy for lovers of oaked Chardonnays. Tasted Jan/13.
See my wine recommendations readily available at the LCBO here:
http://grapeselections.com/grapeselections |
 | Gabriel Israel rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:
A good Chardonnay for the $22 price tag. on the nose: clean, minearals, crisp. On the palate: medium body,nice balanced acidity, passion fruit, lime, hints of sesame. medium-long finish with hints of mint. tasted Jan/13 |
 | Jane Staples rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:
Fruit notes of pear and apple greet the nose with some minerality, while the palate reveals grapefruit, toasty oak and vanilla. Excellent pairing with roast chicken or lobster. |
 | Corinna Horton rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:
A chardonnay in the California style, light and airy with big fruity flavours of peach and apple. For me, this chardonnay was missing a layer of acidity that has marked the Quail's Gate chard I know and love. That in mind, still a ripe opener on a hot day. |
 | Wine Guy rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:
this wine is a light golden colour with a tint of light straw, the nose is very much apple with light fruity citrus notes, the taste is light and crisp that gently tingles the tongue, this wine has some light acidity. This is a nice light chardonnay that is very easy to drink, a very nice value chardonnay. This wine is very similar to some of the nice Italian chardonnays |
 | Jason Solanki rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:
Nice aromas of apple, pear and butter waft from the glass. Medium-full bodied with nice aroma replays, plus some minerality and French oak on the palate. Some herbal/leesy notes come through on the mid-palate. Very good acidity and the finish is medium-long. Tasted Jan/2013. |
 | Nina rated this wine as 88/100 with the following review:
Very nice chardonnay!
Light golden color.
On the nose ripe fruit, pineapple, tropical fruit, floral notes.
On the palate dry, floral,fresh acidity, medium bodied. Light oak coconut, butterscotch,.
Medium finish with touch of vanilla. |
 | Mark Britton rated this wine as 85/100 with the following review:
Very nice aromas and a big bouquet for a chardonnay. The aroma’s of vanilla, toast, oak, and red apple jump out of the glass. There is really a lot going on. On the palate however it lacks as the vanilla takes over and dominates a bit. The apple comes on, but too little too late. Pair with chicken, pasta and seafood. |
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Serve this wine between 55-60 degrees Farenheit or 12-16 degrees Celsius. Tip: If your bottle is at room temperature, put it in ice water for about 30 minutes or in the fridge for about three hours to chill it.
