For Valentine’s Day this year, I prepared Shrimp Scampi for the “Chardonnay Queen” and, of course, I served it along with a chilled bottle of Chardonnay.
The Chardonnay I chose for this special meal was the 2013 Chateau St. Jean North Coast Chardonnay. The name Chateau St. Jean is pronounced “Gene” rather than the French pronunciation, “John” because the original founder of the winery, Kenneth Sheffield, had named the winery after his wife, Jean Sheffield. Isn’t that a romantic thought for Valentine’s Day?
The secret to good shrimp scampi is lots of butter and lots of garlic. The wine chosen to pair with these powerful flavors must be able to hold its own with a strongly assertive dish such as this. The Chateau St. Jean Chardonnay was up to the task. The nose is attractive, with a hint of citrus breeze leading to flavors of apple and pear, with a touch of tropical fruit. There is a creamy mouth-feel, and the finish is clean and crisp, with a lingering taste of vanilla and lemon zest. The wine is well-balanced with enough acidity to cut through the strong presence of garlic and butter.
An almost perfect choice for my Shrimp Scampi, this wine would also be a great companion for Veal Piccata, or Chicken Marsala. Norm’s score is 89.
Score: 89
Price: $11 – $15
By: Norm Bentley
North Georgia Wine Advisor
normwine@bellsouth.net
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