What Kind of Wine Is Josh Cellars Chardonnay?
Josh Chardonnay is a dry white wine from Napa Valley, California. It has aromas of green fruits and notes of grapefruit with a luscious mouthfeel of exotic and stone fruit flavors. The acidity refreshes, while the finish is clean. The Chardonnay varietal is considered friendly to grape growers since it can be grown and ripened without challenge in many climates. However, it is early budding, which means that it can suffer in areas with spring frosts. It showcases flavors of green fruit and citrus in cool and moderate climates. On the contrary, in sunny regions, luscious tropical fruit flavors are the norm.
These can be passion fruit, guava, peach, or banana. In warm climates, though, Chardonnay loses acidity quickly towards the end of the ripening process, and therefore, the harvest timing is crucial. Chardonnay is versatile, unlike most white varietals, and can go through several wine-making techniques. It can display pure fruit flavors to intricate secondary and tertiary aromas of nuts, mushrooms, and honey. In New World wines the Chardonnay style is dependent on the winemaker. As a consequence, many Chardonnays are lightly/heavily oaked or matured. That said, Josh Chardonnay does not seem to have been barrel-aged.
Josh Cellars Chardonnay Review
- Winery — Josh Cellars
- Country/Region — United States, California, North Coast, Napa Valley
- Type — Napa Valley Chardonnay
- Aroma — Apple, Pear, Grapefruit Lime Peel, Mango, Wet Grass
- Grapes — Chardonnay
- Taste — Peach, Apricot, Orange Blossom, Pineapple, Honey, Brioche Bread, Charred Wood
- Alcohol Content — 13.68%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Seafood, Creamy Pasta, Vegetables
Josh Chardonnay is a fulfilling and flavorful white wine. It is well-balanced and indicative of dedicated winemaking. With subtle oak spices and lots of ripe pear and peach flavors, Josh Chardonnay is mouth-watering. If you are on the lookout for a rounded white wine, this Chardonnay is the one!
Tasting Notes
Josh Chardonnay is enjoyable from the start to the end. It begins with apple and citrus fruit aromas and continues with apricot and pineapple flavors. The acidity is excellent and drives to a mostly clean finish. As a consequence, Josh Chardonnay is creamy, buttery, and super savory.
Appearance
Josh Chardonnay is a dazzler of wine, as the pale straw color opens into a clean center. Have a go at swirling the wine a bit in the glass. By doing so, you help it to develop a golden hue near the sides, which is beautiful. The legs of the wine are long and watery, as expected. An indeed, fine, appearance for a Chardonnay.
Aroma
Josh Chardonnay has a youthful nose. It boasts aromas of green fruits, like apple and pear, and citrus scents of grapefruit and lime peel. A mango hint also unearths as the wine reaches the nose, while a note of wet grass offers vibrancy. That is a fruit-forward profile for sure. Clear and refreshing.
Taste
With a creamy but also super refreshing mouth, Josh Chardonnay is delicious. Ripe stone fruit flavors, such as peach and apricot, define the fruity palate. On top of that, delicate orange blossom notes combined with pineapple touches emerge to further satisfy wine lovers.
Josh Chardonnay is also creamy. Honey hints and a slightly charred wood character, round the mouthfeel, as a taste of freshly toasted brioche, brings out a silkiness. The acidity is crisp and arrives just in time, as it washes the mouth from the intense fruitiness.
Finish
Josh Chardonnay ends the fruit parade with a medium but pleasing finish. Generally, creamy Chardonnays have an equally buttery aftertaste. However, that does not happen with Josh Chardonnay, as instead of creaminess, a light citrus hint sits on the tip of the tongue just as the wine is swallowed. An expressive, nonetheless, conclusion.
Rating
Josh Chardonnay is a distinctive Californian white wine with vibrant citrus fruit fragrances, a touch of oak character, and peach notes on the palate. It is definitely crafted with care and is well-balanced. Flavors do not overshadow one another, as such Josh Chardonnay is very palatable.
Josh Cellars Chardonnay Food Pairing
Josh Chardonnay pairs wonderfully with a plate of fried shrimp or calamari. The pear and peach flavors refresh the mouth from the oil-fried nature of the seafood. Furthermore, Josh Chardonnay accompanies nicely steamed mussels and grilled vegetables. Both food options are great as they elevate the flavor and aromatic intensity of the wine. Similarly, creamy pasta dishes like spaghetti carbonara or courgette lasagna match perfectly with the wine’s creaminess.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Makes Josh Cellars Chardonnay?
Josh Chardonnay is made by Josh Cellars, located in Napa Valley, California. Founded in 2007 by vintner Joseph Carr as a tribute to his dad, Josh. Joseph started his career as a wine steward. Then, he became a renowned sommelier, and later, a wine executive. But he left everything behind and pursued his dream of starting his own company, making wines from California. Josh Cellars offers a diverse portfolio of well-balanced and tasty wines. The grapes are sourced from California’s great wine-growing regions, as every vintage represents a commitment to quality.
The winemaker of Josh Cellars is Wayne Donaldson. He has worked in the world’s finest wine-growing regions like Champagne (France), South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, and California and is considered a leader in the wine industry. Josh Cellars belongs to Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits, a leading marketer of wine produced by prestigious families around the world. They have lasting relationships with their suppliers, many of whom have been together with the Deutsch Family since the company began in the early 1980s.
How Is Josh Cellars Chardonnay Made?
Josh Chardonnay is a dry white wine, and, as such, it is produced with the classic wine-making method. The grapes are picked from fine vineyards when they are ripe in flavor and high in acidity. After harvest, they are de-stemmed, crushed, and pressed to release their juice. Then, that juice is taken to the winery and is clarified to preserve pure fruit flavors. Afterward, it is fed into stainless steel vessels to undergo cool fermentation.
At this point, the malolactic conversation takes place. This process is responsible for giving creamy structure to Chardonnays, as well as toasted bread notes. In other words, malolactic conversation enhances the body of white wines. When fermentation is over, the final wine is ready for bottling.
Where Is Josh Cellars Chardonnay Made?
Josh Cellars Merlot is crafted in Napa Valley. It is the center of the American wine industry with its highly acclaimed wines and state-of-the-art wineries. California has a Mediterranean climate, with combinations of warm and cool influences from the Atlantic. These weather conditions allow the production of a vast range of inexpensive and premium wine styles, with concentrated flavors and moderate acidity. Contrary to wines produced in different parts of the world, California wines conserve their fruit-forward nature. And that makes them irresistible.
How to Serve Josh Cellars Chardonnay?
It’s best to serve Josh Chardonnay wine in regular medium-sized white wine glasses. The reason being that the size of the surface contributes to essential aeration. As the air comes into contact with the wine surface, the aromatic and flavor intensity elevate. So, the ripe stone and tropical sensations concentrate, reaching the nose and mouth. Josh Chardonnay also requires chilling at fifty to fifty-four degrees Fahrenheit (ten to thirteen degrees Celsius). A crisp Chardonnay is a refreshing one. In this way, Josh Chardonnay is even more approachable and accessible as a wine.
Remember that the wine needs to stay cool to be flavorful. To do this, use an ice bucket or wine cooler. The bucket should be filled three-quarters full with equal quantities of ice and water so that iced water surrounds the bottle. The water is then able to transfer the heat from the bottle to melt the ice. Air acts as an insulator, and the bottle chills. However, over-chilling overshadows the flavors in wines, making them thin and without structure.
How Much Does Josh Cellars Chardonnay Cost?
As with most wines from Josh Cellars, this Chardonnay has a high-ish price point. It is not your averagely priced California Chardonnay. Josh Chardonnay price ranges from $13 to $20 per 750ml bottle. It depends, though, on the vintage and vendor. Josh Chardonnay is not the cheapest white available on the market, but its quality is worth the price.
How Long Does Josh Cellars Chardonnay Last?
Josh Chardonnay could benefit from bottle aging, as can most medium-to-full-bodied Chardonnays. After maturation, aromas and flavors of almond, hazelnut, dried apricot, and marmalade should have developed, adding substance and weight to the wine. The wine should be sealed with a cork and stored in an environment with room temperatures that do not fluctuate (fifty to sixty degrees Fahrenheit or ten to fifteen Celsius) and a degree of humidity.
Direct sunlight or artificial light should be kept at bay, as they may cause irreparable damage. Intense exposure to light rearranges the chemical components found in wine and can cause faults. That means that the wine ages prematurely, its aromas, flavors, and even color change for the worse. The resulting wine is known as light-struck. Odors also must be avoided, as they might find their way inside the bottle. If they do, they usually instill very unwelcome aromas and flavors, like vinegar (or even animal sweat!)
How Many Calories Does Josh Cellars Chardonnay Have?
Josh Chardonnay is a suitable dietary choice. There are approximately 25 calories in 1 fluid ounce of the beverage, amounting to almost 122 calories per serving. The total Josh Chardonnay calorie breakdown is 0 grams of fats, 2.8 grams of sodium, 3.3 grams of total carbohydrate, 0 grams of protein, and approximately 0 grams of total sugars.
Josh Chardonnay has a low caloric intake and is a great wine choice for consumers on a low-calorie diet. So, feel free to make this Chardonnay your daily beverage during lunches or family meals. Josh Chardonnay alcohol content is 13,68% per 750ml bottle, a regular alcohol concentration for a creamy California white wine.
Conclusion
Josh Chardonnay is a fulfilling and flavorful white wine. It is well-balanced and indicative of dedicated winemaking. With subtle oak spices and lots of ripe pear and peach flavors, Josh Chardonnay is mouth-watering. If you are on the lookout for a rounded white wine, this Chardonnay is the one!
