Don Guerino Reserva Chardonnay 2018 is the second in a three-part tasting sample for Go Brazil wines.  The terroir of the mountainous region of Serra Gaúcha in southern Brazil is unfamiliar to me so I did not have any preconceived expectations of aroma or taste and approached the tasting with a completely open mind. However, I am thrilled to be able to recommend this stylish and well-balanced wine to you.

In the glass the wine was the palest straw colour; crystal clear and bright. Served straight from the fridge at 8°C the nose was subtle pineapple and lychee – inviting and fresh – no attack on the nose that you often get with a newly opened bottle of white wine. The first taste of this young Chardonnay was smooth, over ripe fleshy gooseberry with a satisfying weight and depth, almost chewy and a touch of honey and creaminess on the length. It was dry, refreshing and revitalising with easy acidity and was delicious without food. As the temperature of the wine dropped it became elegant and sophisticated with the addition of tropical nuances of mango on the palate. There were no harsh edges to this succulent Chardonnay; it was an absolute pleasure to drink.

Given that Guerino Motter brought his passion for viticulture from Italy in the late nineteenth century to Brazil, I decided to serve Don Guerino Reserva Chardonnay 2018 with the Italian dish of spaghetti carbonara. The carbonara combined simple ingredients: Pecorino and parmesan cheese, pancetta, egg and fresh spaghetti. The saltiness of the pancetta complimented the fresh acidity of the Chardonnay which washed away the fat of each delicious piece and the cheese sauce picked up the delicate oak. A side dish of roasted Italian piccolo tomatoes further enhanced the match. Cooking the tomatoes reduced their acidity and brought out their sugar and deeper flavours, which matched beautifully with the wine. Full-bodied, oaked Chardonnay would have clashed with the fresh acidity of tomatoes but this medium bodied 13.2% alcohol volume wine with restrained oak was a perfect match and when the tomatoes were spread on the garlic bread, the butter echoed the creaminess on the length.

I loved this Chardonnay, it is a great food wine, unlike the buttery and heavily oaked  Chardonnay’s of the 1990s but its delicate, tantalising flavours stand on their own too. I have no doubt that you will love it.

Don Guerino Reserva Chardonnay 2018 is available from Go Brazil Wines and costs £16