The Hidden Sea Chardonnay

The Hidden Sea Chardonnay 2019 is a great all-rounder that will bring together lovers of oaked and unoaked Chardonnay. It is balanced between fruitiness and subtle oak, making it a great wine with or without food. At this price point, you don’t have to think twice about opening a bottle! 

So we are just about a week into our self-isolation and I am going crazy! We came back from our trip overseas recently and now have to self-isolate for 14 days, which is easier said than done. Not being able to leave our apartment is proving to be a lot harder than I originally thought it would be! Luckily we have plenty of wine to see us through, although at the rate we’re going I’m not sure how much longer we’ll last!

I’d love to lie and say I’m using this self-isolation time to take on those tasks I have been putting off forever, but really all I’ve been productive with is drinking plenty of wine. As my partner said, the first rule of our self-isolation household is wine every night! It’s a rule I’m happy to stick by.

So thank goodness for some great wines to get us through, just like this Chardonnay from the Hidden Sea. If you are a lover of pretty labels like me, this one is for you!

The Hidden Sea Chardonnay is saving our day!

The Hidden Sea are all about making premium wines that celebrate the Limestone Coast region in South Australia. They aim to make great wines – plain and simple! This wine region is a large one in South Australia encompassing the regions of Coonawarra, Padthaway, Wrattonbully, Mt Benson, Robe & Mt Gambier. Because of the large geography of the region, it has a variety of climates, soils and growing conditions creating many unique wines.

The wines from this region are known for being easy drinking and straightforward delicious, and the Hidden Sea Chardonnay is no different! Sometimes Chardonnay can be polarising between those that love oaked vs unoaked wines. But if you are after a Chardonnay that will please both crowds, this wine is for you!

Why I enjoyed it

The Hidden Sea Chardonnay 2019 is the perfect balance between oaked and unoaked Chardonnay. For those lovers of fruity and acidity Chardonnay, it has that. But it also is rounded out by a nice subtle oakiness that will tick the box for the oaked Chardonnay lover in your life (my partner included). The wine is full-bodied but I think the fruitiness and soft acidic finish makes it a lot more refreshing than some of the other buttery Chardonnays. This makes it perfect for Summer drinking!

Flavour-wise you’ll get melon and peach along with a bit of lychee. If this doesn’t scream summer I don’t know what does! You then get that savoury oak flavour and a hint of vanilla that rounds this fruitiness out, making it a great easy-drinking wine.

So who would love this wine? Well, if you are after a white wine with a heavier body for pairing with food, this wine would be my pick. It isn’t too heavy or rich in its flavour but has enough to give it the kick it needs to be paired with dinner. But the fruitiness really means you could easily enjoy it on a hot summers day. Really, the Hidden Sea Chardonnay 2019 is a great all-rounder!

What to pair it with

Because the Hidden Sea Chardonnay 2019 brings together the flavours of oaked and unoaked Chardonnay, it means it can be paired with plenty of flavours! It would go great with seafood but also lighter style summer meals like spicy Asian food or salad. However, this wine will also hold its own with roast chicken or risotto. It also goes well with a nice cheese plate with semi-hard cheeses. This is how I enjoyed it and I can definitely attest to this being a good call!

The final word on the Hidden Sea Chardonnay

The Hidden Sea Chardonnay 2019 is a great in-between Chardonnay to bring together those lovers of oaked and unoaked Chardonnay. Whether you like a heavier white or something fruitier, this wine offers a bit of both. The result? A nicely balanced white that goes well before dinner as much as it holds its own with a full meal. And at $20 a bottle, it is an absolute steal on a great drinking wine!