You’ve heard me talk here before about Biltmore Estate founded by George Vanderbilt. It is an amazing estate as Mr. Vanderbilt had tastes for only the very best. This includes the wine that now bears the name of the estate. I previously have brought you the Biltmore Century Collection, and now I have had the chance to try the Biltmore Reserve Collection and it is as unique as the estate is.
The 2012 North Carolina Biltmore Reserve Chardonnay is a limited bottling of just 1400. It is fermented and aged in French and American Oak with half of the wine going through malo-lactic fermentation (a process to convert tart acids to a softer acid). This yields a smooth slightly buttery oak fruit forward wine. You get hints of citrus paired with vanilla. It is different than most Chardonnay I have tried and I like it.
The 2011 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir is also a limited case production of 1500. Unlike the Chardonnay, this wine is fermented in stainless steel barrels and then transferred to French and American Oak to age. I love the earthy herbal scents combined with fruit and vanilla. It is a fairly easy drinking wine with hints of cherry and a slight sweetness.
The Pinot Noir sells for approximately $25 while the Chardonnay will cost you about $15 to purchase. Both are a good value and are a fun conversation piece for dinner parties.
Read more about the Biltmore Estate and Wines on the official Biltmore Website.
