What Kind of Wine Is Bread & Butter Chardonnay?
Bread & Butter Chardonnay is an oak matured white with a delectable balance of flavors. The bread part of the wine originates in the infusion of flavor from the oak barrels, while the buttery quality is caused by malolactic fermentation. Once the golden hue has filled the glass and the wine begins to breathe, butterscotch together with a tinge of lemongrass beckons. Vanilla flavors take over and are gently nudged aside by a rich peach finale.
The wine is the result of a complex combination of different oaks, namely American, Eastern European, and French. Together, they create a creaminess and a touch of spice. The two wines that form this mighty Chardonnay come from the Monterey region and the Carneros area. The former supplying the boldness and the latter providing more subtle undertones. Bread & Butter Chardonnay reviews highlight the dual quality of freshness and creamy decadence of the wine.
Bread & Butter Chardonnay Review
- Winery — Bread & Butter
- Country/Region — United States, California
- Type — Californian Chardonnay
- Aroma — Melon, Peach, Vanilla, Popcorn, Wet Stone, Mushroom
- Grapes — Chardonnay
- Taste — Pear, Vanilla, Chocolate, Peach, Mushroom, Pineapple, Oak
- Alcohol Content — 13.5%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Fried Chicken, Mushroom Risotto, Red Snapper, Grilled Halibut, Pappardelle Lobster
You will get a pleasant surprise when you open a bottle of Bread & Butter Chardonnay. It delivers on every level, and the price point is just right. It’s an unpretentious Chardonnay that can bring a golden glow to any occasion, and maybe to your cheeks as well!
Tasting Notes
It is fantastic winemaking skills that have turned this into an impressive Chardonnay. It is opulent with the toasty flavor of freshly-baked brioche while retaining the freshness of tropical fruit. It is the result of cleverly blending Chardonnay grapes from Monterey and Carneros, which are two different wine-growing regions.
Thereby a wine that has the best characteristics of each of them is obtained. The long smooth finish rounds off the rich vanilla and almond notes, and there is just enough aromatic oak to make it memorable to your tastebuds. Bread & Butter Chardonnay alcohol content is 13.5%.
Appearance
Bread & Butter Chardonnay has a rich golden glow in the glass. There is clarity about the wine and a subtle sparkle. The no-fuss bottle and elegantly cryptic labeling allow the wine to do the talking, and they are wise and trustworthy words.
Aroma
The aroma focuses on the effects that the wood has on the wine. Firstly, there is a toasty, vanilla bouquet. Great skill is used to blend the silkier and moderately spicy contribution of the French oak with the creaminess of the American oak, adding additional nuttiness. Finally, there is a rich combination of vanilla and crème brulée.
Taste
The name of the wine provides a clear indication of what the wine tastes like. This is a wine with a dedicated following, and then others will avoid it at all costs. For lovers of a Chardonnay that is rich, full, and packed with flavor, this is the one. Why the Bread & Butter? Well, the bread part is the influence of the wood on the wine, and the butter part is the combination of the wine from the two regions and the creamy effect of the malolactic fermentation. It conjures up an image of a rich fruit jam slowly sliding down a warm, buttery brioche.
Finish
This Bread & Butter Chardonnay, with vanilla and tropical fruit flavors, is perfectly balanced by creamy notes of minerality. They gently soften into a lingering finish, before reaching the oak to find a savory companion to fade away with.
Rating
This is one for the ABC crowd to hoist high. It’s buttery, wooded, and wonderful. If you like Chardonnay in that particular style, that is. There is no doubt that it will divide the party into those that do and those that don’t.
For the ones that do, it’s terrific. Big, bold, and unashamedly buttery, Bread & Butter Chardonnay has a lovely harmony of oak to balance the effects of the malolactic fermentation. Bread & Butter Chardonnay pairs easily with food. Just like bread goes with butter, this wine is at home with all creamy, cheesy dishes.
Bread & Butter Chardonnay Food Pairing
Bread & Butter Chardonnay is a wine to reach for when the weather turns a little cooler and the evenings bring a touch of frost. This rich and creamy Chardonnay will match perfectly with dishes containing a buttery sauce, such as pasta or seafood.
But you don’t have to stop there. Warm, creamy vegetable soups will harmonize effortlessly with this wine, as will the likes of winter vegetables in a creamy sauce or baked chicken with delicate tarragon or sage. Seafood pasta is another range of dishes that will happily open their hearts to this wine. And, if you are considering snacks on a cold winter’s night by the fire, try this Chardonnay with buttered popcorn.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Makes Bread & Butter Chardonnay?
Bread & Butter Chardonnay is produced at a small winery situated in the Napa Valley. Bread & Butter wines were launched in 2010 and are currently owned by WX Brands – one of the twenty biggest wine companies in the United States. While Italian winemaker, Stefano Migotto, presides over the production of the wine, the WX brand ensures distribution across New England and the rest of the USA.
How Is Bread & Butter Chardonnay Made?
Bread & Butter Chardonnay is made from one hundred percent Chardonnay grapes. The grapes are, however, sourced from two distinct regions and the blending of these two ingredients creates a perfectly balanced wine. Expert wine-making skills match the boldness of the grapes from the Carneros region with the more subdued and subtle grapes from the Arroyo Seco region.
The big flavors of the grapes from the Carneros region are fermented in one-year-old American oak barrels for four months. Meanwhile, the Arroyo Seco grapes enjoy an eight-month sojourn in new French oak. This produces a wine with light woodiness and a delicate creaminess.
Where Is Bread & Butter Chardonnay Made?
Bread & Butter Chardonnay wine is produced in the Napa Valley, California. The grapes are sourced from two regions. In the Carneros region of Sonoma County, the grapes produce a bold flavor. The Arroyo Seco region of Monterey County provides the more subtle counterpart.
How to Serve Bread & Butter Chardonnay?
As a white wine, Bread & Butter Chardonnay must be chilled before serving. Changing the temperature of wine always needs to be done slowly. So, popping the bottle of Chardonnay in the freezer to chill it when your guests are knocking on the door, is not going to score you many points. So, a little planning is required.
If you really are short of time, then half an hour in an ice water bath will suffice, but an hour in the refrigerator will be far better. The shape of the glass is going to play a role in your enjoyment of the wine. A glass with a narrow bowl will accentuate the oakiness, which some may find less appealing. Chardonnay glasses need more room. The rounded bowl and wider mouth allow the different layers and aromas of the wine to be more easily appreciated.
How Much Does Bread & Butter Chardonnay Cost?
Aggressive marketing of Bread & Butter Chardonnay has resulted in the wine elevating its position to one of the larger sellers in the United States. The Bread & Butter Chardonnay price ranges around the $15 mark but, if you are particularly astute with your online shopping, you may be able to pick up a few bottles at the lower end of this range. And, if you are lucky enough to find this wine at a lower price, then it is time to stock up.
How Long Does Bread & Butter Chardonnay Last?
The intention of the makers of Bread & Butter Chardonnay is to produce a wine of exceptional quality that is conducive to easy and casual drinking. Sure, the wine can be laid down for a year or two but after that, you may just be stretching the point a little and ask yourself, ’Why?’ It is such a great wine, and available at a price so much lower than expected. I know what I would do. ‘Cheers.’
How Many Calories Does Bread & Butter Chardonnay Have?
Bread & Butter Chardonnay calories per glass are around one hundred and ninety-five but don’t forget the chardonnay glass is a little bigger than other wine glasses, so don’t be put off. The carbohydrate content is around five and a half grams per glass.
Conclusion
You will get a pleasant surprise when you open a bottle of Bread & Butter Chardonnay. It delivers on every level, and the price point is just right. It’s an unpretentious Chardonnay that can bring a golden glow to any occasion, and maybe to your cheeks as well!
