Golf-South.net, your link to the Traveling Golfer.

April 2009
by Rick VanSickle

There is nothing on this earth quite like a perfectly oaked chardonnay matched to a simply steamed whole lobster fresh from the Atlantic Ocean and liberally soaked in hot butter and garlic. It's what makes being a wine lover such an obsessive passion.

The marriage of chardonnay and lobster is one of those fairy tale romances that will never grow old. It is the balance of fruit and oak, in particular citrus, apple, tropical fruits, butterscotch, vanilla and spice, working in tandem with the sweet, succulent, tender flesh of a fresh Atlantic lobster dipped in butter that is just about as good as it gets for an exciting culinary-wine experience.

While virtually every wine-growing region in the world makes some sort of chardonnay that will match well with lobster, my favourites come from California, Canada and, to some extent, Australia.

Here are a few of my favourite chardonnays (warning: most of them aren't cheap) to go with lobster.

Le Clos Jordanne Village Reserve Chardonnay ($30)

This chardonnay, the entry level wine from this excellent producer, is subtle but shows light toasted oak, pear fruit and floral aromas. It turns vibrant in the mouth with lingering citrus, apple and pear to go with bright acidity.

Gallo Family Vineyards Two Rock Chardonnay ($30)

This is a beautiful single-vineyard chardonnay from Sonoma that has a nose of tropical fruit, pear and subtle vanilla spice. The mouth shows juicy fruits that are seamlessly bound to deft oak spice.

Ferrari-Carano Alexander Valley Chardonnay ($40)

The nose starts with a citrus blast followed by creamy oak aromas and clove-nutmeg notes. It has good concentration of fruit on the palate that's nicely harmonized with medium oak toast.

Jordan Russian River Valley Chardonnay ($40)

What I would call "classic" chardonnay with pear and apple aromas to go with subdued oak spice. It's focused on the palate with orchard fruits, crisp acidity and a nice mineral note.

Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Chardonnay Reserve ($45)

Sensational wine, as it always is. Pear, vanilla oak spice with a touch of peach and tropical fruit on the nose. It's electrifying on the palate with masses of fruit and impeccable balance.

J.J. McWilliam Chardonnay ($10)

Here's a real deal of a chardonnay (written about before on this site) that also works perfectly with lobster. Fresh tropical fruits accented by summer peach aromas. It's a fruit bomb in the mouth with melon, pineapple, citrus and peach flavours and a friendly kiss of oak. Lots of flavour and nothing too complicated.

And now for something a little different...

A different choice from Niagara's Chateau des Charmes that worked brilliantly with Nova Scotia lobster:

At a recent dinner at the winery we enjoyed Nova Scotia lobster and mango salad that was married to Chateau des Charmes St. David's Bench Vineyard Viognier. This single-vineyard white, with its peach, melon and apricot notes was a fleshy wonder that paired perfectly with the succulent, mango-enhanced lobster.

If you have any questions, email me at: rickwine@hotmail.com