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Wine Guide > Chardonnay

Chardonnay

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Chardonnay is a versatile grape. In cold regions such as Chablis, it shows crisp acidity and flavours of green hay with the flinty notes typical of the terroir - the wine even has a green tinge. Just 100 miles south, in the CÃ´te de Beaune, the white Burgundies are much riper and richer, reflecting warmer conditions and the increasing use of oak.

Chardonnay wines taste very different when the vines are grown in hot climates such as those in the plains of California and Australia. The conditions ensure ripe grapes, which lead to high levels of alcohol in the wine, and rich flavours of peach, melon, citrus and tropical fruits. In the 1980â€™s and 1990â€™s many New World winemakers responded to these bold flavours with equally bold use of oak, ageing the wine for long periods in new oak barrels. The cheap way to add oakiness would be the addition of staves or wood chips to wine in stainless steel containers. The intention was to impart complexity to the wines by introducing desirable aromas of vanilla, caramel, and butteriness. Too often the result tasted like chewing on a piece of wood, and this led to something of a consumer backlash against heavy, oaky Chardonnays. Winemakers in Australia and New Zealand reacted with completely unoaked Chardonnays from cooler climates, whereas in the United States there was more emphasis on controlling the oaking process. Thus they experimented with oak from different sources (French, American, Central European oaks all have different effects on wine), with different treatments (for instance toasting the barrels imparts smokiness and toast flavours) and reduced the oak influence by using bigger barrels (which have less oak per volume of wine), oaking only some of the wine in the blend, or using a mix of harsh new oak and older barrels.

More information on Chardonnay

Food Pairing: Pairs well with any poultry and Vietnamese cuisine. Wonderful with fruits, strong cheeses and capers. Also works beautifully with grilled freshwater fish. On a hot day, a very cold chardonnay served with a plate of figs, balsamic vinegar, and a salty hard

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Ken Brown Wines

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2005 Chardonnay, Sanford & Benedict Vineyard
Santa Rita Hills

Planted by Richard Sanford and Michael Benedict in 1971, this vineyard is the birthplace of the Santa Rita Hills appellation and helped bring recognition to the great potential of ...morethe region. This Chardonnay comes from the original vines planted to clone 108, which became the most widely planted Chardonnay clone in California. Situated on a north-facing slope, the vineyard is cooled by ocean breezes and coastal fog. The soil type is the Botella Series, a composition of both clay and loam with a high calcareous content, which drains well and helps keep yields low.

The old vines are especially expressive, so a minimalist approach to winemaking allows the character and integrity of the fruit to shine through. The grapes were hand picked and gently pressed as whole clusters. After settling in tank for 24 hours, the juice was racked to 60-gallon French oak barrels for fermentation. The wine was 100% barrel fermented with 100% malo-lactic fermentation. The Chardonnay aged sur lie for 11 months in French oak, with 10% new oak in the barrel mix.

Well balanced and harmonious, this Chardonnay is stylish and crisp with fresh aromas of white peach and green apple, accented

^$30.00

Alicats Winery

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2005 Passito di Chardonnay
Cienega Valley

The wine is luscious and very sweet, with flavors of dried apricots, vanilla, brown sugar and, curiously, a faint hint of chocolate. Itâ€™s made in tiny quantities and may not be e ...moreasy to find, but itâ€™s worth the hunt.

^$30.00

Arger-Martucci Vineyards

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2006 Chardonnay
St. Helena

The 2005 Carneros Chardonnay was picked at 24.8 brix with excellent acids. The wine was barrel-fermented in French oak with a combination of 25% new oak and the remainder in 2 and ...more 3 year old barrels so as not to overwhelm the wine. The bouquet gives forth a soft, toasty nose with hints of grapefruit and citrus. This softness carries through on the palate with a lush mouthful of rich, Chardonnay character along with the same hints of toast and grapefruit. The most striking feature of this wine is its balance of appropriate acid and texture on the palate.

^$30.00

Chateau Souverain

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2005 Winemakerâ€™s Reserve Chardonnay
Russian River

Rich gold in color, the 2005 Winemaker's Reserve Chardonnay offers fresh aromas of honeycomb, mango, dried apricot and hazelnut. On the palate, refined flavors of crisp pear, vanil ...morela bean, spiced caramel apple and lively acidity are rounded by ample texture, dimension and gorgeous viscosity. The wine has a full-bodied, creamy finish.

^$30.00

Borra Vineyards

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2005 Chardonnay
Gill Creek Ranch

This limited-edition Chardonnay from our Gill Creek Ranch vineyard is our very first to be barrel fermented, aged and stirred sur lie in 50% new French oak for 18 months, yielding ...morean abundance of beautiful cascading floral aromatics. This creamy nectar is a harmonious blending of mouth-watering Crenshaw melon and crisp green apple with a touch of lime,
finishing with caramelized toasted vanilla oak, walnut and wild banana. 330 cases. Limit 6 bottles per person.

^$30.00

Reynolds Family Winery

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2005 Napa Valley Chardonnay
Napa Valley

Starts with heavenly tropical fruit and sweet caramel notes with an added touch of tangy citrus and a smooth mineral quality. Very food friendly â€“ Our best Chardonnay yet.

^$30.00

Bargetto Winery

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2006 Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay
Santa Cruz Mountains Appellation

The 2006 Chardonnay Regan Reserve is a blend of two clones of chardonnay from the estate vineyard. Ninety percent of the wine is the Mount Eden clone, which develops later in the s ...moreeason than clone 4, the other constituent. Wine made from Mt. Eden clone has much more intensity in flavors and aromas than some other clones of chardonnay as shown with citrus, green apple and floral aromas. This follows with additional flavors of toasty oak and vanilla from the oak aging and viscous mouth feel with crisp finish.

^$30.00

Passalacqua Winery

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2006 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay
Dry Creek Valley

French oak from Tonnellerie Cadus in Burgundy and â€œsur lieâ€ aging give this wine a delicate toastiness that marries perfectly with the fruit and lends a creamy texture to the w ...moreine and a long smooth hazelnut finish.

^$30.00

Russian Hill Estate Winery

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2005 Gail Ann's Vineyard Chardonnay
Russian River Valley

Aromas of Persian lime interlaced with honey, vanilla and green apple follow through on the palate in this elegant, balanced wine. It is racy and refreshing and its subtle tones of ...more oak complement rather than overwhelm the wine.

^$30.00

Amphora Wines

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2006 Chardonnay
Russian River Valley, Peters Vineyard

Peters Vineyard is located on the western edge of Russian River Valley and because of its cool setting is ideal for growing some of the best Burgundian varietals in California. T ...morehe 2006 Peters Chardonnay is feminine and delicate, with perfumes of gala apple, lemon custard, honey and brioche. The wine glides across the palate with a light silkiness and maintains its vibrant acidity on the finish. A fantastic wine to pair with flash seared ahi tuna encrusted with toasted hazelnuts and lightly topped with a ginger soy reduction. For simpler fare, go with lobster!

^$30.00

Rustridge Winery

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2005 Chardonnay
Napa Valley

The 2005 Estate Chardonnay is rich, yet dynamically structured with vibrant acidity and flinty minerals. Aromas and flavors of crisp mineral and tropical fruits abound, followed by ...more a long and complex finish.

Our Estate Chardonnay is 100% barrel fermented sur lees for one year. We use different yeasts in each barrel to bring more diversity and complexity to the wine. Each barrel has been individually selected for our Estate Chardonnay.

^$30.00

Schweiger Vineyards

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2006 Chardonnay
Spring Mountain District

The 2006 vintage is our thirteenth release of Chardonnay. We strive to strike a balance between fruitiness and complexity in our wines, Our goal is to always express the fruit of o ...moreur vineyard first; why work hard in the vineyard only to mask the true beauty with cellar practices. Once harvested, we selectively use the tools we have at our disposal as winemakers to shape and complement the wine; surlies aging, and French oak cooperage, both new and old. Our 2006 Chardonnay is a full bodied wine with true varietal characteristics, hints of pear, kiwi, citrus, and apricots, and delicate undertones of oak and tropical fruits. The body of the wine is rich and supple, filling the mouth with flavors. The true nature of Spring Mountain Chardonnay comes through in the mineral character, more reminiscent of a classic Mersault than your typical California Chardonnay. This wine is best served between 58°F and 65°F.

^$30.00

Lambert Bridge Winery

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2005 Chardonnay
Sonoma County

This classic barrel fermented Chardonnay is balanced and clean with complex aromatics and a crisp lingering finish. The wine has completed malolactic fermentation yielding richness ...more while retaining a ripe fruit impression on the palate. Accented by sweet oak, this wine has hints of pear and butterscotch giving it a smooth yet rich mouthfeel.

While fresh with focused complexity, this Chardonnay is food friendly and perfect with this seasonâ€™s Dungeness Crab. We recommend serving the 2005 vintage with baked rigatoni alfredo, oven roasted chicken or steamed mussels and clams.

^$32.00

Mountain Winery

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2005 Chardonnay
Edna Valley

Ripe nectarine and piecrust spice coupled with toasty oak and a creamy finish best describe this delicious Chardonnay from the MacGregor Vineyard in the Edna Valley Region.

^$32.00

Charles Creek Vineyard

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2004 Chardonnay "La Sorpresa"
Sonoma/Carneros

Buttery in structure with ripe apple/pineapple fruit characteristics this Chardonnay also displays an intriguing hazlenut and toast quality from the newer oak. Richness and viscosi ...morety might suggest a "red wine drinkers white wine".

Winner of 8 Gold medals (the most award winning Chardonnay in the country for the 2006 competition season).

100% Chardonnay

88% Sangiacomo Vineyard

8% Hyde Vineyard

4% Dutton Ranch

^$32.00

Stagâ€™s Leap Wine Cellars

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2006 Karia Chardonnay

Inviting aromas of white peach, apple, spiced pear, and citrus join with floral notes of honeysuckle and roses to create a beautiful bouquet. The fruity aromas carry over to the pa ...morelate and marry with a subtle creaminess and a touch of warm brioche. This delicate richness makes the 2006 KARIA Chardonnay a versatile wine at the dinner table. Try it with chicken piccata, corn risotto, or a warm goat cheese salad.

^$32.00

Ancien Wines

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2005 Chardonnay
Carneros

Our Chardonnay represents a culmination of many years of clonal evaluation and plant selection." We have been selecting cuttings from the most flavorful plants from the vineyards ...morewe had sourced - with the idea of making our own â€œsuperâ€ selection. The vineyards were planted to â€œOld Wenteâ€ or â€œRobert Youngâ€ selections, so we were already starting with some of the most revered cuttings in California*. Even so, we were intent on making a good thing even better. We had these cuttings planted for us at the Toyon Ranch on the Napa side of Carneros and they produced their first juice in 2001. This blends with the Old Wente selection from Sangiacomoâ€™s Vella Ranch.
The wine has layers of forward fruit, complex nuances of yeast and barrel, and a striking minerality that is seldom seen in California Chardonnay. This combines with structure and balanced acidity that promises further development over time.

^$32.00

Per Bacco Cellars

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2006 Chardonnay
Edna Valley

It is seamless on the palate with hints of mango and pineapple. The rich texture and body are amplified by the inclusion of new French Oak, which adds a spicy balanced finish.

^$32.00

Ceja Vineyards

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2006 Chardonnay
Carneros

Aromas of pear, citrus, lemon and green apple invigorate the senses! The palate is fresh, crisp and tangy. Extended sur lee aging provides rich and creamy qualities. Overall Impres ...moresion: Lean and refreshing, this wine showcases classical Carneros fruit.

^$32.00

Cinnabar Winery

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2006 Late Harvest Chardonnay
Santa Cruz Mountains

Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay grapes were picked at their ultimate ripeness, pressed frozen, stainless tank fermented, then bottled. The result is a delightful dessert wine with ...morearomas of orange peel, spice, and flavors of apricot, orange zest & honey. - George Troquato, Winemaker Note: General Manager Suzanne Frontz enjoys serving our Late Harvest Chardonnay as a great accompaniment to her Sunday Brunch of scrambled eggs & applewood smoked bacon!

^$32.00

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2006 Estate Chardonnay
Estate Vineward, Temecula

CAW Rating: 100

100

1 reviews

Creamy pear, apple, melon, and tropical overtones float elegantly on a silky, balanced crispness in our 2006 Estate Chardonnay. This intensely managed vintage from the vineyards surrounding our winery bestowed a very light crop, yielding the fullest flavors and exceptional richness.

More Chardonnay Ratings

Combined Rating
100.0 1 reviews	2006 Estate Chardonnay Wiens Family Cellars
Flavor
5.0 1 reviews	2006 Estate Chardonnay Wiens Family Cellars
Impression
5.0 1 reviews	2006 Estate Chardonnay Wiens Family Cellars
Bouquet
5.0 1 reviews	2006 Estate Chardonnay Wiens Family Cellars

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