Stags Leap Napa Valley Chardonnay & Basil Pesto Salmon

Wine: Stags Leap Chardonnay 2012	Type: Chardonnay
Country: USA	Region: Napa Valley, California
Rating: Good	Price: $23
Recommendation: Recommended

For this week’s installment, we were having Salmon with Basil Pesto Sauce and wanted to find a wine that would not be overpowered by the Salmon and conversely would not overpower the Salmon. We chose a 2012 Stags Leap Napa Valley Chardonnay and I believe we achieved the objective.

The reason I chose Stags Leap as the winery is based on the strength of their Cabernet Sauvignon, which is a wine I have enjoyed in the past. Stags Leap winery produces medium priced wines of good quality. The winery is apparently difficult to find, being on a private road and not being well signposted. It is surrounded by rolling hills small mountains. The winery itself looks like a very attractive and relaxing place with a beautiful old nineteenth century stone manor house surrounded by herb gardens and an assortment of trees, greenery and plenty of shade. The building includes a beautiful wraparound stone porch used for tastings and other gatherings. Grapes have been gown here dating back to the 1880’s.

The wine is an attractive light color, slightly lighter than many popular Chardonnays’ on the market today.  If you are after a big bold Chardonnay with strong Oak, this is not the wine for you, but if you are after a more subtle wine then this would be a good choice. The bouquet has a slight hint of oak and apple.  The taste is smooth and subtle and the fruit flavors are difficult to distinguish with some apple and pear coming through.  The label mentions minerality, and there is a distinct earthiness about the flavor.  There are hints of oak, which are in no way overwhelming, resulting in a refreshing finish. It is easy drinking and did not overpower the Salmon, instead it was a nice compliment. The wine is good without being great and compared to the Cabernet that I am familiar with, is slightly disappointing. The wine works well with foods without overpowering them, which is a good attribute to look for in a Chardonnay.

Salmon with Basil Pesto Butter

 

Ingredients

Fresh Salmon

Fresh dill

Pesto Sauce

Basil Pesto Butter

  

Fresh basil leaves - 2 cups

Garlic – 2 cloves

Pine Nuts - 1/4 cup

Extra Virgin olive oil – 1/2 cup

Sea salt and ground black pepper according to taste

Parmesan cheese - 1/2 cup freshly grated

Directions

Pre heat oven to 400 F.

Coarsely chop basil, garlic, and pine nuts (Can use a food processor).

Combine oil until smooth.

Add salt and pepper.

Mix in the cheese.

Let butter reach room temperature and mix in pesto to taste. Make a ball using tablespoon.

Place dill on the Salmon and a ball of Pesto butter.

Cook around 30 minutes depending on the size of the Salmon

Rating: Good

Winery Web Site

http://stagsleap.com/