Annika Sorenstam’s Chardonnay

A new wine by golf great, Annika Sorenstam, and Wente Vineyards.

The only golf I’ve played has involved moats, castles and windmills.

So when a sample of the new Annika’s Chardonnay 2008 arrived on my doorstep, I was was primed to take a sip, then hit a hole-in-one at the nearest putt putt course.

After all, the wine is named for Hall of Fame golfer, Annika Sorenstam, one of the best female golfers of all time.

The Chardonnay is a joint venture between Sweden-born Sorenstam and Livermore’s Wente Vineyards, which also has quite the golf course. But natch!

Sorenstam worked closely with winemaker Karl Wente to create this second wine from Annika Vineyards. The first was a 2006 Syrah ($75), which was released last year.

The Chardonnay ($40) is toasty, yet balanced with crisp acidity and minerality. There’s honeysuckle on the nose, along with citrus and pineapple flavors.

The wine was barrel-fermented in a combination of French, American, Eastern European, and neutral oak, and aged for 10 months.

It paired delightfully well with my dinner of grilled chicken, sauteed kale and “See’s Scotch Kiss Sweet Potatoes.” Indeed, the orange zest in the sweet potatoes dish really popped with this wine.

The next time you spot me on the pee-wee course, don’t be surprised if I’m toting a bottle of Annika’s Chardonnay for luck.

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