En Barberon, 2011

Benedicte & Stephane Tissot

Chardonnay

Cotes du Jura, France

Drunk: 15 December 2018

Paired with: Roast duck, Spicy Xichuan shrimp, Burgundy Sheep's Cheese, Smoked Herring with garlic, lemon, olive oil, corn oil, olives, peppercorns, pickles and chili.

I went to the wine store and asked for something interesting, specifically, something "funky." I am extremely pleased to say this Chardonnay from the relatively unknown wine region of Jura, nestled between Burgundy and Switzerland, fit the bill perfectly.

Upon opening, it smelled like whisky! Which slowly transformed, especially after the smoked herring, into something similar to Pol Roger's Winston Churchill. In between there were hints of fruits, honey, smoke or perhaps even gasoline.

Surprisingly versatile, this Chardonnay paired well with anything and everything I threw at it.

Loved it. And it wasn't very expensive either.