Mas Guiot Crocodile CHARDONNAY 22

Actually, it's more like the Flamingo has been reinvented.

Many of you will remember the lovely "Flamingo" Chardonnay from my friends, the Cornut Brothers of Château Guiot. Over the last couple of years, it became one of the most requested Chardonnays in the shop. The Flamingo on the label did get the fuzzy eyeball from quite a few customers; however, it really was legit. A short drive south towards the Med from Château Guiot puts you right in the middle of Europe's largest breeding ground of Flamingos. So how did this go from a flamingo to a crocodile on the label? Crocodiles are also indigenous to this part of the Costières de Nîmes.

It all started last year with a phone call from my late friend, importer extraordinaire Craig Baker. He approached Numa and Alexis Cornut with a challenge -- make a Chardonnay in the style of Southern Burgundy with the pristine Chardonnay fruit of their Nîmes vineyard. Of course, there was no way the twin brothers could resist the challenge, and happily, for us, the result of that challenge became the "Crocodile" Chardonnay!

It may not be Burgundy; however, this Chardonnay sure does hit the mark for quality and value. In the glass, the bright yellow hue opens to a Burgundy-like freshness with green apple and melon aromas framed by hints of citrus. It's a thirst-quencher style of Chardonnay with a nicely focused palate of citrus and melon, finishing with a subtle beam of minerality. It's fermented and aged entirely in stainless, so it will fit perfectly on the porch or at your next picnic. Pair this with all of your lighter summer fare, and it will do nicely with seafood and white meats from the grill.