£22.99, Majestic
Californian and US wines generally are infrequent visitors to this page, not because I don't appreciate them but because they're relatively expensive in the UK.
This is towards the upper end price-wise for Wine of the Week but more than deserves its place – and it seems all the more appropriate as we approach women's history month and International's Women's Day.
The female-led team at Cambria Winery, part of Jackson Family Wines, includes winemaker Jill Russell, whose wine CV covers studying in Australia and working in Menetou-Salon in the Loire, and joint proprietor Katherine Jackson, after whom Katherine's Vineyard was named back in 1986. To complete the picture, Katherine is the daughter of Barbara Banke, chairman and co-founder of Jackson Family WInes.
Now to the wine, a lovely combination of ocean-cooled crispness, elegant, sunny fruit, creamy texture, old-vine complexity and flavours of lemon zest, crunchy ripe apple, cashew nut and sourdough toast.
Winemaking in brief: 80% old vines, 75% barrel fermented, 75% malolactic, nine months on lees in 20% new French oak.
Food pairings: chicken, seafood, salmon, white fish and pasta, not least in creamy and/or lemony, or gentle cheesy or mushroom sauces (think fish pie, macaroni cheese, creamed mushrooms). It also works with very delicate, creamy curries. 14.1%. Empty bottle weight: 602g.
Cambria Estate Winery Katherine's Vineyard Chardonnay 2019, Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara County, California, US
£22.99 in any 6-bottle mix (£27.99, single), Majestic
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