Ménage A Trois

Folei a Deux website label photo

No, this article is not about sexual fantasies. It is still about budget friendly wines (sorry if this disappoints you).   In this particular case it is about a chardonnay that sources its juice form three different California regions; Monterey, Santa Barbara and Mendocino, hence the name ménage a trois. The winery is Folie A Deux,  located in Napa Valley California. Ménage A Trois is a secondary label that the winery produces that focuses on wines made up of a blend of three grapes, or, as in this case, three different viticultural areas. An American Viticultural Area (AVA)is a wine-grape growing area in the U.S.with distinguishable geographic features and boundaries defined by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), as defined by  Wikipedia. 

According to the label, Monterey (56%) contributes citrus fruits and acidity, Santa Barbara (37%) adds tropical fruits and Mendocino (7%) gives the wine structure. This wine also undergoes partial malolactic fermentation and spends some time in French and American oak barrels. 

In the glass the wine exhibits nice straw yellow color with medium legs showing an average alcohol content around 13.5%. The nose is clean and crisp showing notes of honey with mixed tropical fruits.   On the palette, the wine is thin and crisp up front, with tropical fruit, kiwi and a touch of Christmas spice. The wine finishes with a mild roundness and a touch of toastiness as the short time in oak finally shows itself. 

All in all, a well put together wine that is more tuned for the unoaked chardonnay lovers of today, definitely not for the Chardonnay drinker looking for bold and buttery wine. And at a price between $9.99 and $15.99 with a wide range of locations to buy, makes this wine a good bargain!