Beware the Lure of Rombauer Chardonnay

Yes Rombauer Chardonnay will bewitch anyone with a palate for a big, buttery, and oaky California Chardonnay.

But this golden nectar apparently lurks near groups of attractive, mature women and younger men.

In Cedar City, Utah, we’re shooting TV show intros at a local winery near the Utah Shakespeare Festival. This episode we’re shooting just happened to include our review of this seductive Chardonnay – certainly in our top five of chardonnays. But then in the middle of our on-camera come-on, the local wine maker interrupts us.

“You know,” he says, “In Park City it’s called Cougar Juice.”

What? Stop the cameras!

Rombauer is Cougar Juice? Waiter, another. We have to hear this!

“While the husbands are out skiing,” he says, “the wives are in the bars on the prowl for young guys and all the wives want is that Rombauer Chardonnay.”

Further research shows cougars will hunt in the afternoon, but not all are married.

And we also found that it’s uncertain who really uses the Rombauer as a trap.

Based on our knowledge of younger men, the wiles of smart women, and the seduction of Rombauer’s taste profile, the partaking of Rombauer is a logicial first step in the cougar mating dance. But tasting this complex, multi-layered wine could actually be the Cougar’s ultimate and only conquest.

Yup. It’s that good. Here’s how we unfurled this enticing predatory tale.

Rombauer is widely available outside cougar stalking ski country. Most stores have it for about $30 to $40 a bottle in most regions. It’s not cheap, but it’s worth it.

It struts tastes of mango, guava, vanilla, and a subtle citrus back. It is layered perfectly with a balance of citrus and oaky vanilla to be complex and smooth. And it’s crafted to achieve a beautiful creamy finish that is irresistible.

There is enough acidity to enjoy many food partners. It complements white fish and chicken. But it also stands up to lobster and even steak. Yes, you can begin the evening with Rombauer Chardonnay and stay together all night.

Here’s our video sip of the Rombauer Chardonnay from Carneros and its tasting profile.

Rombauer Chardonnay has no tawdry past. Koerner and Joan Rombauer moved to Napa in 1972 to start the winery. They came with a great appreciation and history of the mating of wine and food. Koerner’s great aunt was Irma Rombauer, the author of the classic 20th Century cook book, The Joy of Cooking.

In honor of her, the Rombauer cork reads: The Joy of Wine.

The Rombauer Vineyards in St. Helena display that joy. In fact, John, by chance, met Koerner back in 1997 and he offered a tour and a chilled bottle of chardonnay.

The winery produces three other Rombauer Chardonnays as well – all worth your palate’s time.

But they also make other wines for other winemakers under different labels. Rombauer is also more than just chardonnays.

Their merlot and cabernet sauvignon are decadent, as well a crisp Sauvignon Blanc. All wines are crafted to perfection using both traditional and new techniques to achieve the absolute best from the grape.

If you’re bitten by any of them, you can join their wine clubs and have cougar juice delivered to your door.

It may be called cougar juice in some places, but it is a rich and robust wine not soon to be forgotten, no matter what vintage it is.

Cheers!