Contempo Chardonnay

Cachapoal Valley

Chile

2015

Contempo is defined as showing the latest style. Whereas the packaging will remain consistent over time, the style and varieties of the wines offered under the Contempo brand will continually adapt to the wandering palates of the youthful wine consumer by exploring everything from the traditional to the avant-garde.

Region

The beauty of the Cachapoal Valley and the attractive qualities of the Peumo district brought a Northern Chilean family to purchase a vineyard there in the vineyards had been planted with pre-phylloxera vines imported directly from France that still grow on the hills today. The winery uses sustainable growth practices and with a legacy of passion for agriculture and its people, this 6th generation family vineyard continues to thrive today.

Westgate Wine Notes

So what’s the secret to the surprising quality (and freshness) here? I [Purveyors of Westgate Wine] would guess it’s Chile’s cool Cachapoal Valley, which has allowed this fairly full Chardonnay to ripen fully at 13% alcohol and retain good acidity.

It actually has a 97-point score from JustWinePoints.com…which is, quite frankly, ridiculous. But Tastings.com, which has it “Highly Recommended,” is on the money.

A good Chardonnay for $15…maybe even better than most.

WineChump Notes

It seems as if we’ve opened about a thousand bottles of Chardonnay this summer during the COVID-19 lockdown (okay, we said it). As our friends at Westgate Wine put it, it’s a good Chardonnay for $15, but we think it’s a standout if you can find it under $10 (that’s our price point for everyday Chardonnays). We’d recommend not trying to compare it to a Meomi or Luminus — it’s just not in that league. But, you can buy two of these or one of those. Westgate’s got the best price locally, but our other friends (including Wegmans) may be close if you aren’t in the RTP.

Find this at Harris Teeter, Kroger, and Winn-Dixie for less than $16 with loyalty cards.