Non-alcoholic wine review: Lautus Dealcoholized Chardonnay
/Lautus Dealcoholized Chardonnay, South Africa, 94 Points
Making a non-alcoholic chardonnay that will satisfy the pickiest of former wine lovers is a difficult feat. It’s almost like the holy grail of the non-alcoholic wine world, since so many people are looking for a chardonnay replacement. Some of the existing winners in that category are the Smoky Bay Chardonnay and JP Chenet So Free Chardonnay. Both are deep yellow in colour and have buttery notes alongside the typical crisp apple and lemon notes of a traditional chardonnay. A lot of people also like Fre Chardonnay and it’s a huge fan favourite of Chardonnay lovers.
South African brand Lautus has already come out swinging with an amazing non-alcoholic red wine called Savvy Red and a great sauvignon blanc, so it’s no surprise they’ve knocked it out of the park with their new chardonnay.
A little background on the grape before we dive in. Chardonnay originated centuries ago in Burgundy, France which is still the home of some of the best examples of that style in the world. After reaching a peak in the 1980s/1990s by a new generation of wine consumers in the U.S., it fell out of favour in the 2000s by the ABC “Anything But Chardonnay” crowd. Despite that, the chardonnay varietal is globally now the most widely planted white grape variety and still a favourite amongst regular wine consumers.
Lautus makes their wines in South Africa, where chardonnay is not a native grape. The country only started importing chardonnay to the region in 1980, and the great climate and growing conditions in South African vineyards has made it a big success for winemakers.
The Lautus chardonnay is a great example of a dealcoholized wine, using premium grapes from the region and spinning cone technology. Spinning cone is a new innovation that separates the alcohol, aroma distillate and the juice in a vacuum, so the winemaker can then blend the aroma and juice back together again. It helps non-alcoholic wine retain its flavour better than previous dealcoholization methods.
Aroma
On the nose, there are lovely notes of luscious peach and soft creamy vanilla. Very enticing.
Taste
On the palette, there are classic chardonnay flavours of green apple and summer stone fruit, laced with soft buttery notes. There is a beautiful tart acidity all the way through to the finish - a nice surprise which is often lacking in n/a wine.
This wine is sumptuous and elegant and a great example of an accomplished drink with personality, character and complexity. It’s a classic example of the style that will be a crowd-pleaser.
What to pair with Lautus Chardonnay
As with most chardonnays, it pairs well with any type of cream sauce over chicken or fish, soft cheeses like Brie or vegetable dishes with bright flavours. We tried it with ripe cheddar on raisin and blackcurrant crackers and it was delightful!
Currently available at Boisson in the U.S. ($20 USD) and in Canada use code SOMEGOODCLEANFUN at UpsideDrinks.com for $15 off order of 100 or more. Also availablre through Dry Variety ($23.50 CDN) and The Sobr Market.
How I score wines (based on IWSC standards):
95 to 100 - An excellent drink with a great personality. An example that stands out among its peers
90 to 94 - An accomplished drink with considerable personality, character and complexity. A classic example of its style or variety.
85 to 89 - A perfectly well-made drink which provides an enjoyable drinking experience.
80 to 84 - An acceptable but simple drink, lacking distinction.
