Metairie Les Barriques Chardonnay

Metairie Winery is a leading winery in the South of France. Their vineyards, located roughly between Limoux and Narbonne in the south, are among the finest in this wine region. Metairie was founded in 1995 as a cooperative. This means that several winegrowers in the South of France work together and produce wine under the same label: Metairie. Because multiple winegrowers are involved with this winery, it has a claim to the finest grapes available. The vineyards are spread throughout the region, and the grapes are planted in the best locations for each grape variety. This ensures the exceptionally high quality not only of Metairie Les Barriques, but of all Metairie wines.

Wood aging for the Metairie Chardonnay

It's no wonder this Metairie Les Barriques Chardonnay is so popular; for this price point, it's truly a great wine. It's made entirely from Chardonnay grapes grown in the Languedoc wine region. The old vines, averaging 40 years, produce ripe and full-bodied grapes perfectly suited for oak aging. In the beautiful vineyard, the Chardonnay grapes receive ample attention, including sunshine and the soil's terroir. After being hand-harvested, the juice is aged for an impressive 9 to 11 months in small oak barrels in the Metairie cellar. This is an important period for this "Les Barriques Chardonnay," as it develops a full and robust flavor while also being very smooth.

Chardonnay from Metairie Les Barriques full and very powerful

During its aging in wooden barrels, this Chardonnay also matures on its lees and is stirred regularly. This unique technique makes this white wine even fuller and creamier in flavor. And at this price, it's a real discovery! This wine is renowned throughout France, and its thick, full flavors, in particular, remind the French of a mature Burgundy.

The aromas and flavors of Metairie Les Barriques Chardonnay

The aromas on the nose are floral, citrus, vanilla, oak, and yellow plums. The palate is soft and creamy, with plenty of yellow fruit like apricots, mango, pineapple, and a hint of lime. On the back of the tongue, we detected vanilla, oak notes, roasted nuts, and yellow cream. What a classy wine, and for this price, it's a popular house wine in many Michelin-starred restaurants. Unfortunately, we can't name any Michelin-starred establishments, but it's also the house wine of a two-star restaurant, which is saying something! This Metairie white wine is delicious as an evening wine but also pairs well with dishes like butterfish, fresh salmon, chicken dishes, and pasta with a creamy sauce.