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Wine of the Week: 2008 Covenant Chardonnay 'Lavan'

By S. Irene Virbila, Los Angeles Times, Source: MCT News Service

Wine of the Week: 2008 Covenant Chardonnay 'Lavan'

Back in 2003, Jeff Morgan and Leslie Rudd made a kosher Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon called Covenant that could stand right up there with the big boys. Now the partners have just come out with their first Chardonnay, named Lavan, which means "white" in Hebrew.

Who knew you could make a kosher Chardonnay that tastes like a white Burgundy? The grapes come from the Bacigalupi Vineyard in the Russian River Valley. Note for your next wine trivia game: Grapes from that vineyard were part of the blend in the 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay, which famously won the Paris tasting in 1976 that pitted French wines against upstart California ones.

More important, the 2008 Covenant Chardonnay has a classic Burgundian profile. It's toasty and creamy, with a thrilling acidity, notes of butterscotch and citrus and a long, long finish. This might be the best kosher Chardonnay ever made.

It also costs way less than a Burgundy of similar quality. Drink it with a simple roast chicken, poached salmon, slow-cooked fish or scallops in sauce.

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Region: Russian River Valley

Price: About $38

Style: Rich and creamy

What it goes with: Poached salmon, slow-cooked fish, scallops, roast chicken

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PHOTO (from MCT Photo Service, 202-383-6099): wineweek