One of the highlights of judging the Canadian Wine Awards a couple of weeks ago was hanging out with the fellow judges. One of them was sommelier Brad Royale, who possesses the most amazing language for describing wine. If you were to read his notes you’d find them far fetched, but when you are tasting the same wine you really get some of the descriptors he uses. A talent.

Brad has his own micronegociant wine operation where he bottles small quantities of wines under the Kitten Swish label. He gave me this bottle to taste, and I was really impressed when I tasted it. It’s a Chardonnay from the Stuhlmuller Vineyard in California’s Alexander Valley.

Kitten Swish Chardonnay 2012 Alexander Valley, California
Very fresh with ripe, clean, pure pear and white peach fruit as well as some toasty hints on the nose. The palate is delicately phrased with ripe pear and white peach fruit and subtle pithy notes. Bright and fruit driven with nice texture and weight. Real finesse. 93/100

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