Chardonnay on premium pkg?

[39august]

Since Mer Soleil is no longer available by the glass, what other chards are available by the glass please? I know Elegance is. But that's not a premium wine to me. Is Villa Maria sauvignon still on premium?

[asnaleah]

Onboard Eclipse now. Both Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc and Steele Chardonnay are available.

[39august]

Thanks. Are you familiar with Steele Chard? I don't think I've every heard of it. 

[asnaleah]

I had it last night with dinner. It’s French, not oaky, food friendly. 

[markeb]

Steel Chardonnay is as stated French. No oak, no butter. Perfect for food. 

[39august]

I'm more interested in Chard for sipping without food. I looked up Steele and on line it shows as a California Sonoma  wine. 

[mrgabriel]

@39august  Steel without the e - Steel Chardonnay is a Louis Jadot wine.

 

I absolutely detest oaky Chardonnays and given my druthers, I'd drink a white Burgundy or a nice Chablis. Steel Chardonnay is always my choice onboard since I don't want to spend a bunch of money buying bottles of Chablis. They don't always have it in every restaurant. 

Edited December 8, 2023 by mrgabriel

[cruisestitch]

Current premium and classic wine by the glass menus Sillhouette December 2023

[markeb]

3 hours ago, 39august said:

I'm more interested in Chard for sipping without food. I looked up Steele and on line it shows as a California Sonoma  wine. 

No. French. And it’s Steel. 

[39august]

Thanks for clarifying. 

[Blazerboy]

Steele with an extra "e" was a Lake County winery founded by Jed Steele, former wine maker(many years ago) at Kendall Jackson.  It's since been sold to Clay Shannon of Shannon Ridge.  It was a decent Wednesday night wine.  

 

I think, given the list, I'll see if the Reserve Pinot from Kendall Jackson is drinkable, and stick with the Louis Jadot for white.  O.k., and I might have to try the Mlabec!  🤣

Edited December 9, 2023 by Blazerboy

[39august]

Any comments on the Louis Jadot chardonnay on the premium menu?  In past years I found that the French chards were not my cup of tea, so to speak. 

[markeb]

10 minutes ago, 39august said:

Any comments on the Louis Jadot chardonnay on the premium menu?  In past years I found that the French chards were not my cup of tea, so to speak. 

That’s the Steel. It tastes wonderful. Crisp, clean, some nice fruit notes. It does not taste like a stick of butter left in a wooden churn. Which is a good thing. 

[marieps]

I had Steel from the PAL pkg on Silhouette's TA and it was lovely at dinner.  

[wineoclock]

Louis Jadot is perfectly good Chardonnay. I don’t drink Californian wines as just don’t find them very good. Can’t compare them to French or Italian wines. 

[mrgabriel]

1 hour ago, 39august said:

Any comments on the Louis Jadot chardonnay on the premium menu?  In past years I found that the French chards were not my cup of tea, so to speak. 

Is there something in particular that you don’t like about French Chardonnay? 

 

[39august]

Haven't actually tried a French chard in a few years, but when I did, they seemed thin to me. No body. But anyway, thanks for all the good comments on Steel, aka Louis Jadot. 

[CruiseRQA]

53 minutes ago, wineoclock said:

 I don’t drink Californian wines as just don’t find them very good. 

So the whole category of California wines just aren't very good?

🤣

[wineoclock]

Not the ones I’ve tried. I thought the Mer soleil was dreadful! I did blind wine tasting at berry brothers and I only liked the old world wines - I think it says my palate isn’t as varied as I’d like. I accept my loss! 

[39august]

Interesting.  Mer Soleil was my go to on X. Different strokes as they say!

[CruiseRQA]

1 minute ago, wineoclock said:

 I thought the Mer soleil was dreadful! 

Mer Soleil is a $15 Monterrey chardonnay.   It isn't going to match a good French white.   You need to try a good Napa or Sonoma chardonnay, a Napa cab or a Sonoma zin.   

 

Saying you don't like California wine because you didn't like Mer Soleil would be like saying you don't like Kentucky Bourbon because you tried Old Crow and didn't like it. 

[markeb]

23 minutes ago, wineoclock said:

Not the ones I’ve tried. I thought the Mer soleil was dreadful! I did blind wine tasting at berry brothers and I only liked the old world wines - I think it says my palate isn’t as varied as I’d like. I accept my loss! 

Try something unoaked or neutral oak from Russian River or Carneros. Totally different animal than Monterey (or the heavily oaked 100% malolactic chards from Napa). 

[FolsomMike]

On 12/8/2023 at 1:16 PM, cruisestitch said:

Current premium and classic wine by the glass menus Sillhouette December 2023

They misspelled ‘Malbec’. 😉