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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

296 wines

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Jeriko Estate

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2005 Reserve Chardonnay
Mendocino

A fantastic marriage of the creamy & buttery to the crisp & acidic makes this wine a full-bodied & rich yet classically elegant Californian Chardonnay. 100% Oak with 100% Malolacti ...morec Fermentation, very small production - only available online!
**92/100 Wine Enthusiast (November 2007)**

^$32.50

Reynolds Family Winery

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2006 Napa Valley Chardonnay
Napa Valley

Creamy caramel to start with a touch of ripe pear. Will bring to mind well balanced tropical fruits and a slight touch of tangerine that finishes with smooth caramel and a mouth wa ...moretering citrus finish. Our non-malolactic fermentation style Chardonnay is very food friendly, and a great refresher for those warm days.

^$33.00

Foxen Vineyard

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2006 Tinaquaic Vineyard Chardonnay
Santa Maria Valley

â€œNotes of pineapple, apricot, peach, vanilla cream and cinnamon spice flavors are balanced by layers of minerality, citrus andâ€¦ despite a rich voluptuousness with excellent aci ...moredity.â€ â€“ Bill Wathen, winemaker

^$34.00

Robert Stemmler Winery

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2005 Carneros Estate Grown Chardonnay
Carneros

Intense aromatics of honeysuckle, white peach, ripe pear and hazelnuts. This full bodied Chardonnay, balanced by refreshing acidity, resonates lychee and candied lemon, while focus ...moreing on its salt, mineral and slate characteristics.

^$34.00

Peters Family Winery

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2002 Chardonnay
Carneros, Sangiacomo Vineyard

This delicious, intensely rich chardonnay displays an array of lush, complex flavors beautifully interwoven to produce a chardonnay with exceptional balance and flavor. Barrel ferm ...moreentation in a selection of French and American oak, extended time on the lees, and bottling 100% unfiltered have served to intensify the flavors and complexity of our 2002 Chardonnay. Deep gold in color, it offers up a melange of lemon, melon, and pear notes followed by creamy vanilla, hazelnut, fig, and butterscotch notes on the long silky finish. GOLD MEDAL-2005 Starwine International Wine Competition GOLD MEDAL-2005 Los Angeles County Wine Competition SILVER MEDAL-2005 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competiton SILVER MEDAL-2005 Dallas Morning News Wine Competition

^$34.00

MacRostie Winery & Vineyards

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2005 Chardonnay, Wildcat Mountain Vineyard
Sonoma Coast

Pale Straw in color, with aromas of lemon oil, vanilla caramel and gunflint. In the mouth there is ripe honeydew melon, citrus, and spiced apple. A richly textured but elegantly st ...moreructured wine with a lot of flavor impact and a long life ahead.

^$35.00

Renaissance Winery

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1994 Chardonnay

Two thirds of this wine was fermented and aged sur-lie in oak barrels (French, German and American, about 50% new), the balance was fermented and aged on its primary lees in stainl ...moreess steel tanks. The barrel-fermented portion underwent malo-lactic fermentation, while the tank-fermented portion did not, to preserve more of its primary fruity aromas.

^$35.00

Adastra Wines

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2006 Chardonnay

A complex wine with aromas of citrus blossom, apple, pear, mineral and talc. Succeeds in combining a vibrant brightness with substantial mouthfeel. A wine to savor on its own or w ...moreith food.

^$35.00

Adastra Wines

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2005 Chardonnay

Aromas of lemony citrus, honey, incense, buttered toast and golden delicious apple. Medium-plus body, well-balanced with a pleasing finish. Delicious on its own and excellent wit ...moreh food.

^$35.00

Ken Brown Wines

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2006 Chardonnay, Nielson Vineyard
Santa Maria Valley

This small bottling of Chardonnay comes from a vineyard I have worked with for more than 20 years. Planted by pioneer, Uriel Nielson in 1964, this property is Santa Barbara Countyâ ...more€™s oldest vineyard. The old vines are especially expressive, so a minimalist approach to winemaking allows the character and integrity of the fruit to shine through. The wine was 100% barrel fermented with native yeasts, and underwent 100% malolactic fermentation. This Chardonnay aged sur lie for 10 months in French oak, with 13% new oak in the barrel mix.

This Chardonnay is silky and elegant with fresh aromas of gala apple, lemon blossom and honeysuckle, which will gradually evolve into aromas of honey, pear and hazelnut as the wine develops. A rich mouth feel and opulent mid-palate are beautifully balanced by bright natural acidity, a trademark of Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay. The wine culminates in a silky, seamless finish.

^$35.00

Pleasant Valley Vineyards

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2005 Brittany Morgan Estate Reserve Chardonnay
Santa Cruz Mountains

^$35.00

Dutton Goldfield

CAW Rating: 99

100

1 reviews

2006 Dutton Goldfield Dutton Ranch Chardonnay
Russian River Valley

THE VINEYARD
Dutton Ranch farms over sixty unique, separate vineyards located in the coolest areas of the Russian River Valley, primarily in the Green Valley appellation. Da ...moren and Steve select their favorite Dutton Ranch vineyards to craft a wine reflecting our vision of classic Russian River Valley Chardonnay. The vineyards we choose are based on our desire to offer wines with fruit intensity, great acid structure and richness, even after full barrel and malolactic fermentation. Mill Station, Rued, Schwartz and Walker Hill are all old vine (greater than 30 years), old clone vineyards located in the cold heart of Green Valley. They provide the beautiful citrus backbone, spicy floral nose, and tropical and mineral overtones of this offering. Morelli Lane Vineyard, planted to the Hyde clone of Chardonnay, is located high on top of Stoetz Ridge on the west side of the valley, and contributes notes of stone fruit and pear to the wine.

WINEMAKING
The individual lots are barrel fermented using a combination of indigenous and inoculated yeast strains. They undergo malolactic fermentation, and the lees are stirred twice monthly. The blend is assembled, with the primary lees, in early

^$35.00

Carmel Road Winery

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2004 Chardonnay
Arroyo Seco

"Distinctive, shy-bearing clones such as Rued and Dijon have been specifically selected for Carmel Road Chardonnay. These clones thrive in the decomposed granite soils of Arroyo Se ...moreco and provide focused flavors and perfumed aromatics of citrus and melon fruit. Complete malolactic fermentation with weekly stirrings add creamy, vanilla and toasty notes to the wine."
- Ivan Giotenov, Winemaker

^$35.00

Clos La Chance Wines

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2005 Biagini Vineyard Chardonnay
Santa Cruz Mountains

On the nose, crisp green apple is balanced with citrus fruit aromas and subtle notes of orange blossom, pie crust, vanilla and spice. Ripe pear and mandarin orange appear on the en ...moretry with a yeasty, doughy mid-palate. Crisp citrus and mineral notes complete the finish.

^$35.00

Clos La Chance Wines

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2005 Liebeler Vineyard Chardonnay
Santa Cruz Mountains

On the nose, this wine has aromas of rich, tropical fruit and apple cobbler. Scents of crÃ¨me brÃ»lÃ©e, sweet peach and honeysuckle are also present in this complex Chardonnay. Upo ...moren first sip, the entrance to the palate is seduced with flavors of mango, red apple and ripe nectarine flavors. These are quickly followed by notes of hazelnut, honeycomb, brown sugar and the spice of new French oak on the finish.

^$35.00

Moshin Vineyards

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2006 Chardonnay
Foppoli Vineyard, Russian River Valley

Floral and citrus nose with light cinnamon spice. Creamy mouth feel with a big mid-palate, vanilla, candied pineapple and great acidity. Chardonnay lovers, and others, will very mu ...morech enjoy this one. Wild yeast fermentation, 50% ML. Drink now through 2010.

^$35.00

Buena Vista Carneros

CAW Rating: 99

100

1 reviews

2005 Ramal Vineyard Chardonnay
Carneros

True to its Carneros terroir, the wine exhibits aromas of apple, Asian pear, citrus rind, mineral, hazelnut and brioche. This wine continues with flavors of lemon custard, nectarin ...moree, with subtle tropical, wet stone minerality and vanilla cream in the finish. The 2005 Ramal Vineyard Chardonnay has complexity with its multiple clonal selections, showing bright acidity and great fruit intensity along with richness and lush texture. This wonderfully balanced wine can be enjoyed with an array of foods. Try with bacon wrapped day boat scallops.

^$36.00

Davis Family Vineyards

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2005 Chardonnay
Russian River Valley

Mother nature was unusually cooperative this vintage and helped to make this perhaps our best Chardonnay to date. It was a late October harvest from two Russian River locations: th ...moree majority from the Dutton Ranch and the rest, a Meursault clone, from our estate vineyard. After small-lot, whole cluster pressing, 90% of the lots were fermented with native yeasts for increased complexity. 80% of the wine was barrel fermented using only Allier and Trancais oak, and just 1/3 of the barrels were new. The tight grain of these cold climate forests gives subtle flavor extraction and adds a toasty note without ever making the wines taste â€œoakyâ€. We did daily lees stirring early in the fermentation for added texture, then racked off the lees (using only gravity to preserve the delicate aromas) once malolactic fermentation was finished. The result? Exotic tropical aromas give way to the benchmark citrus notes of this cool region, and in the mouth the layers of flavor unfold in a yin/yang-like dichotomy of lush fruit with crisp acidity wrapped in vibrant and rounded textures. Dee-licious!

^$36.00

Peters Family Winery

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2005 Chardonnay
Sonoma Coast, Sonoma Stage Vineyard

This delicious golden blonde chardonnay reflects its Dijon clone heritage, hand-crafted Burgundian vinification, and Sonoma Coast single vineyard terroir. On the nose the wine exhi ...morebits an array of fragrant floral, lemon, honey, and sweet spice notes. On the palate focused meyer lemon, mango, honeydew, vanilla, fig, mineral and sweet spice notes are all seamlessly blended. Barrel fermentation, extended barrel aging on the lees, and 100% unfiltered bottling contribute to this chardonnay's rich, lavish flavors and texture. Smooth and beautifully balanced now in its youth, this chardonnay is sure to evolve into an even more special wine with cellaring.

^$36.00

Peters Family Winery

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2003 Chardonnay
Carneros, Sangiacomo Vineyard

This rich, delicious chardonnay was barrel-fermented and aged sur lies to produce a classic chardonnay which reflects both its California terroir and its Burgundian vinification. R ...moreeleased in June 2005, our 2003 chardonnay is 100% unfiltered and drinking beautifully now. On the nose the wine exhibits fragrant aromas of mango, melon, honey and vanilla. On the palate the wine displays ample acidity, with meyer lemon, tangerine, and creamy vanilla notes, followed by rich mineral, and caramel notes on the lush finish. 90 POINTS-Wine Enthusiast Magazine-12/1/05 GOLD MEDAL-2006 Dallas Morning News Wine Competition SILVER MEDAL-2005 San Francisco International Wine Competition

^$36.00

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Top Rated Chardonnay

2006 Chardonnay
Chiles Valley District

CAW Rating: 100

100

1 reviews

This wine is characterized by a crystal clear brilliant canary diamond color and an impressive nose of Key lime, tropical pineapple, honeysuckle, kiwi and Meyer lemon zest. It is bright, spare and lean with unmistakable chardonnay roundness. This is a refreshingly deep wine with a subtle creamy text ...

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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