Wine Review: Round Hill 2010 California Oak Free Chardonnay

This wine has a straw color.  The nose has aromas of green apples, pears, a hint of pineapple and lemon zest. The palate mirrored the nose with those green apple, pear and lemon flavors, along with a creamy  mouth feel. This wine is produced and packaged by unitizing methods that are committed to sustainability.  This wine would be great paired with shellfish, fish, chicken or pork. It would also pair well with light appetizers and light cheeses. http://www.rutherfordwines.com/  SRP $12.00 

Note: This wine was a sample provided by Rutherford Ranch Vineyards & Winery

Try the recipe below with this wine and let me know what you think!

Spinach and Artichoke Pinwheels

Ingredients

• 1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed
• 1 (14-ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
• ½ cup mayonnaise
• ½ cup grated Parmesan Cheese
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 (17.3 ounce) package frozen puff pastry, thawed
• Egg wash (1 egg whisked with a tablespoon of water)
• Dash of Sea salt

*Parchment paper for baking

Preparation

Preheat the oven at 400 degrees

Drain spinach well, pressing between layers of paper towels

Stir together spinach, artichoke hearts and next 5 ingredients

Thaw puff pastry at room temperature for 30 minutes

Unfold pastry and place on a lightly floured place or on heavy plastic wrap

Spread one half spinach mixture over pastry sheet, leaving an 1/2 inch border

Roll up pastry, jelly-roll fashion, pressing to seal seam, wrapping in heavy duty plastic

Repeat procedure with remaining mixture and pastry

Freeze 30 minutes, cut into ½ inch thick slices

These can be frozen up to 3 months

Brush with egg wash before baking. Place pinwheels on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet

Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until golden brown

Yield 4 dozen

Note: I just sampled this wine again last night, and I found the fruit flavors so vibrant and juicy. This is a great chardonnay for those of us who just can't take the oak! It is a wine that is great to sip alone or to pair with food.  I felt it warranted a re-post. I paired it with Drunken Goat cheese.