Jam Cellars is a relatively young winery. Jam Cellars was co-founded back in 2009 with Robert Lloyd. The winery specializes in producing wines that represent some of the best examples of typicity for modern new-world wines.
Robert Lloyd is a veritable rockstar where Chardonnay is concerned. You may not know his name, but I guarantee that you have enjoyed his work at some point or another.
From Simi to La Crema, and from Rombauer to his own, self-titled line Lloyd Cellars, he is practically Mr. California Chardonnay, and he does it better than just about anyone else in the business.
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Jam Cellars Butter Chardonnay Review
Butter Chardonnay is one of my personal go-to bottles when people tell me that they want a big, bold, luscious California Chardonnay.
The winery may be situated right in Napa Valley, but they source juice from some of the best locations from up and down all of California.
Jam Cellars Butter Chardonnay
- Brand: Jam Cellars
- Country: United States
- Region: California
- Wine Type: White Wine
- Varietal: Chardonnay
- ABV: 14.8%
Appearance
This wine is a rich, bright, golden color through and through. It has a big, heavy body, and upon swirling the wine, you will quickly notice how dense and full the legs are on this bottle.
Smell
The aromas of freshly toasted bread, vanilla extract, burnt oak, and caramel make up the majority of the smells here.
After you get past the bigger, more intense aromas that dominate initially, you will find a core of baked apples and pineapples.
All of this comes pouring readily out of the glass, and the scents just keep on giving.
Taste
The flavor profile on this one is definitely as bold as the aromatics are. Rich buttered toast, creamy vanilla, and flaky apple pie are all present.
Notes of freshly sliced pineapple, poached pears, and baked lemon bar can all be found in this bottle as well.
The heavy body on this bottle is what really helps drive everything home.
It gives the wine a sense of richness, making it very appealing to fans of modern California Chardonnay, which is unsurprising coming from one of the winemakers I consider synonymous with the style.
What Does Jam Cellars Butter Chardonnay Pair With?
This bottle is a pairing powerhouse. One of my absolute favorite pairings for this bottle is a grilled cheese sandwich with mozzarella, provolone, and bacon.
It is simple, delicious, and hedonistic, and it doesn’t make you feel like you need a special occasion to whip it up. In short, a fantastic everyday option!
For those of you who want to go with something sporting a bit more flourish, I recommend going with lobster-stuffed deviled eggs. I personally enjoy using bay leaves and fresh thyme, with just a spritz of lemon juice on top.
That said, feel free to substitute the lemon juice with a bit of aioli for a richer option with a bit more kick!
What Wines Are Similar to Jam Cellars Butter Chardonnay?
The first suggestion I would make would be to go for some of the other big names Lloyd has worked on, such as Simi and La Crema.
Other great everyday options include Buttercream, Bread and Butter, and Iter.
You could also try some South American Chardonnays. The warm climate in Argentina, in particular, lends itself to this style nicely!
If you are looking for a bottle for a nice occasion and enjoy this style, try Rombauer. It is an absolute powerhouse in the industry.
I would be remiss not to recommend Lloyd Cellars Chardonnay. I’ve been known to stock up by the case load when I find a good deal on it!
Final Thoughts
This is a great bottle for those looking for rich, full, creamy, smooth Chardonnay.
While it definitely will not be for everyone, it isn’t trying for that. It’s trying to be one of the best options in this style on the market, and it does a great job.