What Kind of Wine Is Tom Gore Chardonnay?
Tom Gore is a barrel-fermented Chardonnay from California. It won the gold medal in the 2017 New York International Wine Competition, setting great expectations. The wine has intense aromas of apple and pear, complemented by stone and exotic fruits in the mouth. Notes of toasted oak and brown spice are also present on the palate, while the finish is long and creamy. The wine is from the Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc varietal.
Chardonnay is the perfect canvas to host different wine-making techniques. The reason for this is that it has elegant aromas and flavors. Chardonnay wines can be either very light or heavily oaked, showing primary fruit flavors to complex tastes of nuts, mushrooms, honey, and kerosene. On top of this, when produced in the New World and not in France, where it originates, Chardonnay exhibits juicy sensations of tropical fruit, such as guava, banana, and peach.
Tom Gore Chardonnay Review
- Winery — Tom Gore Vineyards
- Country/Region — United States, California, Sonoma County
- Type — Californian Chardonnay
- Aroma — Honeysuckle, Apple, Pear, White Peach, Almond, Toasted Oak, Vanilla Spice, Cloves
- Grapes — Chardonnay
- Taste — Peach, Apricot, Pineapple, Grapefruit, Butter, Butterscotch, Caramel, Cinnamon Spice
- Alcohol Content — 14.5%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Roast Chicken, Duck, Salmon, Spaghetti Mussels, Mac, And Cheese
Tom Gore Chardonnay is good value. It concentrates on complexity rather than pure fruitiness. With floral and apple fragrances on the nose, ripe stone fruits on the palate, and inherent oak-spice flavors, Tom Gore is a creamy and savory Chardonnay. Add to that the fact that it is buttery as well and you have a completely irresistible Chardonnay! Whether you need a structured wine for dinner or a delicious beverage to drink on the patio, you cannot go wrong with Tom Gore.
Tasting Notes
Tom Gore Chardonnay wine is oaky, compelling, and distinctive. On the nose, floral fragrances accompany green fruits and charred wood aromas. As the wine flows into the mouth, peach and pineapple flavors emerge. Then, notes of caramel and butter appear, resulting in a rich texture. The wine is medium-to-full-bodied, and its refreshing acidity balances the creamy finish. A characteristic tasting profile of a dynamic Chardonnay that celebrates passionate Californian wine-making!
Appearance
Tom Gore Chardonnay is attractive to the eye. As it pours into the glass, a medium straw color surfaces before developing into a golden hue near the rim. The center is almost translucent, while the legs are long, complementing the appearance.
Aroma
The nose of Tom Gore Chardonnay is unique. It combines floral and unripe green fruit aromas with toasted oak and baking spices. Tom Gore Chardonnay opens with fragrances of honeysuckle, apple, and pear. At the same time, notes of white peach emerge before blending with charred wood and vanilla spice. A nutty touch of almonds and cloves follow close behind and conclude the aromatic profile. What a nose! Full of complicated layers. Incomparable!
Taste
Ripe stone and exotic fruit flavors dominate the mouth. Peach, apricot, and pineapple add a slight sweetness while elegant notes of grapefruit reflect the nose. A touch of honey engulfed in caramel and butter gives creaminess as cinnamon spice overtones grace the palate. On top of that, extra notes of chard and wet stones, coming from the Sauvignon Blanc grapes used in the wine production, offset the ripeness. As such, Tom Gore Chardonnay is complicated and delicious. It is medium-to-full-bodied with a soft mouthfeel. It is incredible!
Finish
The finish is long, smooth, and creamy. Tom Gore Chardonnay has a satisfying aftertaste with butterscotch notes. Further, the stone fruit flavors are present on the tip of the tongue, but not for long, as the intense acidity washes all remaining flavors away and invigorates. That is a delightful ending to a fantastic tasting profile.
Rating
Tom Gore is one-of-a-kind and one of the most structured Californian Chardonnays on the market. It combines an oak character with primary and secondary aromas and flavors artfully. Honeyed, creamy, but balanced, Tom Gore is savory. If wine enthusiasts had to choose only one Chardonnay, they need to look nowhere else. Pick this one! It will not disappoint.
Tom Gore Chardonnay Food Pairing
Tom Gore Chardonnay makes a dynamic combination with roast chicken. Be sure to add pineapple cubes to enhance the stone and exotic fruit flavors of the wine. As always, creamy Chardonnays match well with oily fish such as salmon, while shellfish is also a competent option. Spaghetti & mussels combine astonishingly with the floral and pear nature, delivering a sensational dining experience. And when you want no more than to sit on the couch with a glass of Chardonnay and snacks, it fits the bill perfectly. Go ahead and make some mac and cheese. Oh, those getaway moments!
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Makes Tom Gore Chardonnay?
Tom Gore Vineyards produces Tom Gore Chardonnay. Tom Gore is a second-generation grape farmer from Sonoma County. Together with his family, he helped develop the vineyards of Northern California into a world-class winemaking region. Tom is also the winemaker and sees his wine as an expression of the growing season. He established Tom Gore Vineyards in the 1970s.
How Is Tom Gore Chardonnay Made?
Chardonnays give white wines based on primary fruit aromas and flavors. For this reason, the grapes need careful handling to avoid oxidation and acidification. After harvest, the grapes are de-stemmed, crushed, and pressed to release their juice. Then, this juice is clarified to conserve pure fruit character. However, while most white wines would be immediately fed into stainless steel vessels after clarification to undergo cool fermentation, Tom Gore spends the longer part of the alcoholic fermentation in oak barrels. After barrel-fermentation has taken place it is transferred into stainless steel tanks for the remaining process. Eventually, the final wine is filtered from sediments and bottled.
Where Is Tom Gore Chardonnay Made?
Tom Gore is made with Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc grapes, although the latter are of a tiny proportion merely to add herbaceous notes. Tom Gore Vineyards source the grapes from select Central and North Coast vineyards in Sonoma County, California. There, cool nights and warm afternoon breezes ripen the fruit slowly for concentrated fruit flavor. Sonoma County is best known for fine Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays, and sparkling wines. It is larger than Napa County, the more notable wine-making region in California. The Mediterranean climate of the region combines the bright sun with cooling influences from the Atlantic Ocean and fog. In this way, California delivers a diverse range of wine styles, immensely appreciated by worldwide wine enthusiasts.
How to Serve Tom Gore Chardonnay?
The best way to serve Tom Gore Chardonnay is in regular medium-sized white wine glasses. The large surface gives the wine the necessary aeration. As the air comes into contact with the wine surface, ripe tropical fruit flavors of Tom Gore concentrate before elevating. On top of that, the wine requires chilling at fifty to fifty-four degrees Fahrenheit (ten to thirteen degrees Celsius). Two hours before serving, wrap the bottle with a wet paper towel and place it inside the fridge. Afterward, feel free to uncork the wine and indulge in the wine’s toasty personality.
Keep in mind that Tom Gore 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. Be careful, though, as over-chilling hides the flavors in wines.
How Much Does Tom Gore Chardonnay Cost?
Tom Gore is an averagely priced Chardonnay. Consequently, it is approachable to everyone. Tom Gore Chardonnay price ranges from $11 to $19 per 750ml bottle, depending on the vintage and vendor. Without significant cost-considerations, consumers can get this rich white and enjoy its creamy texture to the maximum. And remember that Tom Gore Chardonnay pairs well with poultry recipes! Perfect for Thanksgiving or Sunday dinner.
How Long Does Tom Gore Chardonnay Last?
What makes Chardonnay wines unique is that they are suitable for bottle aging, unlike most white wines. After maturation, aromas and flavors of almond, hazelnut, dried apricot, and marmalade should have developed. As Tom Gore has undergone oak aging before bottling, it is fine for long-term storage as its lush body can endure maturation successfully.
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 avoided as they may damage the wine and make it faulty. Odors also have to be kept at bay, as they might find their way inside the bottle and impart unpleasant aromas and flavors.
How Many Calories Does Tom Gore Chardonnay Have?
Tom Gore Chardonnay has a standard-calorie density, which makes it a great wine choice for consumers on a diet. There are about 24 calories in 1 fluid ounce of the beverage, equating to a total of 120 calories per serving. The calorie breakdown is 0 grams of fats, 0 grams of sodium, 0 grams of total carbohydrate, 0 grams of protein, and 4 grams of total sugars. Therefore, Tom Gore Chardonnay calories are friendly to wine fans who take good care of their body. Only consumers who are on a low-sugar diet need to consider the total sugars of the wine. In addition, Tom Gore Chardonnay alcohol content is 13,6 % per 750 ml bottle, a regular alcohol concentration for an oaked white wine.
Conclusion
Tom Gore Chardonnay is good value. It concentrates on complexity rather than pure fruitiness. With floral and apple fragrances on the nose, ripe stone fruits on the palate, and inherent oak-spice flavors, Tom Gore is a creamy and savory Chardonnay. Add to that the fact that it is buttery as well and you have a completely irresistible Chardonnay! Whether you need a structured wine for dinner or a delicious beverage to drink on the patio, you cannot go wrong with Tom Gore.
