From Leyda Estate in Chile, Santa Carolina knows what it’s doing with wine at a reasonable price, making this Chardonnay a steal at $10. It’s a good balance between citrus, oak and butter; blended together nicely. The result is a friendly wine for walking around and sipping, as I’m doing now on Cross Sound Ferry out of New London, headed for the East End of Long Island, or with a wide variety of foods. This 2015 Reserve Chardonnay is made at a Chilean Vineyard founded in 1875, where they clearly respect the old tradition of winemaking, blended with a taste profile that pairs well with food of all kinds.
Show the label at your wine store, or, call ahead to make sure it’s on the shelf. Tell them the distributor is Brescome Barton, so they can easily look it up in their regional wine book. A good wine store will have it for you within 24-48 hours.
—Faith Middleton