Chardonnay Lambic
(has 1 batch)

Grape lambic using Chardonnay - the world's most famous white grape - released together with a Pinot Noir version; after the extreme gushing I experienced with that last one, I was fully prepared and managed to reduce the loss to a minimum, but be warned, this one too has enormous pressure on it, opens with a tremendous 'bang' and keeps overflowing long after the first pour. Initially very thickly moussey, egg-white, foamy to creamy head, gradually receding to a rather thin rim and flat 'islands' in the middle, over a hazy warm honeyed peach blonde robe, turning a bit murky and beige in the very end. Aroma of small and sour white grapes and grape skins, lots of green apple (which in this case comes partially from the Chardonnay, showing the grapes were grown in a cool climate - where they produce more malic acid), garden sorrel, yellow plum, unripe nectarine, dusty attic, dry haystack, musty barn, white currant, stewed rhubarb, natural (white) wine, lemon rind, unripe mandarin, minerals, apricot kernels, touch of urine (but fittingly so in a lambic). Crisp, sour onset, lots of sour grape and green apple, crushed gooseberry and rhubarb, with a vague unripe pineapple-, white currant- and pear-like sweetishness hidden within the tartness and coming from the Chardonnay grapes; lively carbonation - champagne-like and sharply fizzing but acceptable for the style. Slender bready core under lots of tart yellow-green fruitiness and lactic acidity, with that sweetish element thinly continuing as well, blending with tannic woodiness but also tannic effects from the grapes, yet somehow the whole remains juicy enough in spite of those tannins. Earthy (old hop) and pronounced funky (Brett) aspects in the finish as well, with musty barn and urine returning, but all in an interesting, elegant way, like a natural wine made of Chardonnay grapes - the fact that the generously applied grapes dominate here, is what keeps this whole lambic colourful and refreshing, especially after swallowing when a trace of lemon juice lingers, tightly connected with vinous sour-sweet white grape flavours. More vividly fruity and grape-focused than the Pinot Noir version, which went a bit in all directions and behaved rather wildly funky, this one to me is clearly the better of the two, and in spite of the gushing, quite a vibrant and powerful grape lambic, even if still a bit rough around the edges. May improve a bit further with extended cellaring. Nice one from one of traditional lambic's most uncompromising producers.