Keeva’s Select Chardonnay
Keeva’s Select Chardonnay is probably the most interesting white wine we’ve been given the pleasure to market since we started Chateau Bole. It has an interesting backstory which is worth sharing before we give our own tasting notes on this wine.
The wine is a collaboration between Chile’s second largest wine producer and one of China’s more unconventional wine retailers.
On the Chilean side we have a third generation family estate, who have been crafting wines in Chile since the 1960’s. With 13 vineyards spread across 5 valleys in Chile’s Curico region, the family specialise in the growing of 5 key grapes, around which they craft all of their wines. On the China side we have the Haideng Merchants Group who have been involved in China’s wine and liquor sectors since 2006.
The shared goal was to craft wines that could be served at much lower temperatures than they would normally be served in Europe, to suit the fiercely hot and humid climates of China and South East Asia – something that isn’t usually recommended as a wine would normally lose most of it’s bouquet and the depth of its flavours. 8 – 10 degrees C would be the normal temperatures to serve Chardonnay. This wine is actually better suited to around 4 degrees C which is perfect for a south east Asian summer temperatures. Those few degrees difference in temperature make a huge difference.
Region: Curico, Central Valley, Chile
Grape Type: Chardonnay
ABV: 13.5%
Weather conditions: Central Valley in Chile does have a wide range of climates, however, in Curico it is typically temperate. Slightly better warmth and sun than the south of France, but not quite as extreme as some of the more Mediterranean climates.
Wine making: All grapes were carefully hand-picked and hand sorted to ensure only the best grapes are using to make the wines. Fermentation is a carefully controlled 4 months process. The wine is then separated into 4 batches, that each undergoes a different oak cask maturation process. The wines are then combined and vatted together to create a harmonious marriage between the 4 different wine structures before being bottled and brought to you.
Serving Temperature: 4℃
Nose: Pears, pineapples, acacia flowers and delicate vanilla
Palette: Shredded green papaya and white nectarines strike the palate, rounded off with a delicate hint of citrus.
Food Pairings: As with all good white wines, Keeva’s Select Chardonnay is a good match for poultry. Chicken, duck and turkey are all brought to life with this wine. But where this wine really comes into its own is with seafood and shellfish. Oysters, mussels, crab and lobster are invigorated by this wine. Trout and salmon, as fillets or steaks, are energised by the fruit balanced acidity of this Chardonnay. Rich and oily sea fish are carefully complimented with this bottle
Show reviews in all languages (6)
🇬🇧Karen Barry🇧🇷 –
This Chardonnay was light and easily drinkable very chilled straight from the fridge; the nectarine coming through strongly from the first sip and the green papaya showing more as the glass warmed to about 12C. Not as oaky and rich as other Chardonnays can be, the lightness of the wine didn’t take anything away from the flavor, making it very quaffable especially in the China heat! Will definitely be ordering more soon
Tom –
Wow! If you like your white wine to be cold in the summer and still able to taste genuine flavour then try this.
Fridge set at 5 degrees Celsius. Wine chilled for 24 hours.
I paired it with mildly spicy fish tacos. And yes, wow. On first sniff Keeva started throwing apple and citrus up my nose. The first glug confirms those flavours. And then the finish starts to feel like some tannins are going to gate crash the party, but they’re almost immediately hit by butter and the fruit comes back. Delightful, tasty and beautifully cold.
And there is Jay, sitting in the background, having sold this stuff cheap to initially to get us hooked. You’ve got me. How many bottles will a kidney or spleen get me Sir?
🇺🇸 Sean B 肖恩 🇨🇳 –
I’m a wine novice at best. Not much sense of what I’m tasting, learning as I go. But a promise is a promise, so here goes:
This is delightful wine, I swore on first sip I had bitten into a peach or a nectarine. Pulled from the fridge at no more than 8C. No joking, this was a rare shock of delicious flavor to me. As it warms a bit I’m sensing a touch of floral and sweetness that makes the drinkability last. Right up this neophite’s alley. Available again? Yes please!
Marc de Beer –
This is a very “fruit forward” Chardonnay, and I swear I tasted banana! It’s got the perfect level of tartness to challenge the SB as a daily drink. I smoked a fairly strong Cuban cigar through the second half of the bottle and it stood up to it brilliantly. The slight smokiness of the wine actually paired super well with the cigar! This is amazing value as it puts Chardonnays double the price to shame.
James –
This Chardonnay delivers big time on taste as well as value.
You can taste the fruit from the first sip as the cool wine caresses your taste buds with a busting crisp rush of flavors. Trying to isolate each of them is a task beyond that of my palate. The dryness isn’t overpowering like with some dry whites, so hints of apple are left lingering on the tongue, inviting you back for another sip. After that, you’ll find it hard to put the glass down. You may as well just glug directly from the bottle, it saves washing the glass and having to share. And this is the sort of wine you want to keep all for yourself.
At this price, it’s hard to beat and probably won’t hang around long, stock up while you still can as it’s a real treat to enjoy on these hot summer days.
Mike –
I was never much a fan of Chardonnay but giving this bottle a try really changed my mind. Clean and crisp on the first sip.. not overpowering with its fruity flavors… great on a hot Sunday afternoon or a relaxing glass after a long day… very well recommended..