Limari Chardonnay
The Limarí Valley is one of Chile's most exciting new wine regions. Approximately 5 hours drive north of Santiago, this cool coastal region is on the edge of the Atacama Desert, one of the driest deserts on Earth. The vineyards must be irrigated to survive, but they produce extremely high quality grapes. Chardonnay is particularly at home in this region, where it produces intensely crisp wines with delicious pear and apple flavours.
| Appellation | Limarí Valley |
| Soil | Riverbed, well-drained. |
| Ageing | 10% aged in used French oak barrels for 6 months. 90% aged in stainless steel tanks sur lies for 9 months. |
| Colour | Pale lemon yellow. |
| Taste Profile | An intensely crisp wine with mouth-watering fresh pear and apple flavours. Perfect to accompany fish or white meats cooked in a cream or butter sauce. |
| Tasting Notes Video |  |
Successful matches with Limari Chardonnay
Chardonnay is a good choice for partnering richer dishes, such as pasta, fish or chicken dishes that have been cooked in a cream or butter sauce.
This Limari Chardonnay has a mineral edge that enables the flavours to cut-through a rich sauce whilst retaining all of its rich, tropical Chardonnay character.
Salmon steaks with hazelnut butter and capers
9 tablespoons of butter
4 salmon steaks (about 230g/8oz each)
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons capers, drained
Fresh lemon wedges (to garnish)
Heat 1 tablespoon of butter in a non-stick skillet over a medium heat. Add the salmon and cook turning once, 5 minutes on each side.
The flesh should be slightly undercooked and moist in the centre. Remove the steak to a warm platter. Wipe out the pan with a paper towel.
Gently heat the remaining 8 tablespoons of butter in the same skillet over a medium heat until the butter turns to a hazelnut colour.
Remove from the heat and add the capers. Pour the butter sauce over the salmon, garnish with the lemon wedges and serve immediately.
?Casillero del Diablo Limari Chardonnay is one of my favourites as it has great freshness and balance, but doesn?#153;t overpower the flavours found in white meats. Limari is one of the up-and-coming regions of Chile; its northerly location produces very elegant, refreshing wines.?
Clem Yates, Kitchen, Bedrooms & Bathrooms magazine, January 2010
