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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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Calera Wine Company

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2006 Chardonnay Le Petit
Mt. Harlan

We made this wine from a second, younger block of Chardonnay vines, planted in 1998 on steep west-facing slopes situated close to the old, original limestone quarry. The wine made ...morefrom this young vineyard expresses a delightful brightness and supple fruit characters of apple and pear. It exhibits the classic creamy texture and the wonderful mineral character for which our Mt. Harlan Chardonnays have become known.

^$20.00

Gold Note Winery

CAW Rating: 91

100

2 reviews

2006 Chardonnay
Fair Play

This vintage is made in a well-balanced, light, and fruity style. Perfect for year-round sipping!
Silver Medal-2008 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
Bronze ...moreMedal-2007 Amador County Fair

^$20.00

Bargetto Winery

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2005 Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay
Santa Cruz Mountains Appellation

The grapes for this Chardonnay came from our own Regan Estate Vineyards. We grow two clones of Chardonnay there: Mount Eden and Clone 4. This wine is a blend of the two. The 2005 C ...morehardonnay has aromas of citrus, particularly of grapefruit, with hints of oak and butter. There is a lingering mouth feel and a refreshing acidity that will make this a great food wine.

^$20.00

Clos La Chance Wines

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2005 Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay
Santa Cruz Mountains

On the nose, I get strong aromas of sweet scented pear, ripe red and golden delicious apple. There is a hint of tropical fruit with a touch of spice....hazelnut, cinnamon and graha ...morem. A faint aroma of apple blossom along with a touch of wet granite or stones. The rich flavors of ripe peaches dominates the mouth, along with a hint of juicy pear and tropical fruits that linger from the mid-palate. The finish is smooth, with traces of nutmeg and vanilla.

^$20.00

Cooper-Garrod Vineyards

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2005 Chardonnay, Gravel Ridge Vineyard
Santa Cruz Mountains

The golden straw color leads into a nose of pears, starfruit, and notes of butterscotch. On the palate, tart apple, pear, and ripe apricot are laced with hints of vanilla cream. Th ...moree easy finish lingers long and lovely! Barrel fermented and aged in French oak for 10 months; 100% malolactic.

^$20.00

Mount Palomar Winery

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2005 Chardonnay
De Luz Highlands

This 2005 vintage Chardonnay greets us with a beautiful honeysuckle and apple aroma. It's flavors of apple, pear, nutmeg and vanilla are refreshing and pure. It has a slightly cr ...moreeamy/yeasty mouthfeel and long finish.

It should match very well with fish fillets, especially rich fish like swordfish or tuna, broiled lobster and grilled prawns. It also matches well with poultry dishes and semi-soft cheeses.

^$20.00

Mount Palomar Winery

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2005 Los Caballos Chardonnay
Los Caballos Vineyard

The Los Caballos Vineyard is located on the slopes of the foothills of the mountains surrounding the Temecula Valley, which exposes the fruit to cool, ocean breezes. Nearly all of ...morethis wine was tank fermented and never saw oak. The remaining 10 percent of the wine was barrel fermented adding complexity to the nose. It has aromas of candied grapefruit, ginger and pear. It is a subtle chardonnay that pairs perfectly with non-cream based pasta sauces and white meat dishes.

^$20.00

Guglielmo Winery

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2007 Private Reserve Chardonnay
Santa Clara Valley

Produced by the Guglielmo family from Chardonnay grown at San Ysidro vineyards in Southern Santa Clara Valley â€” then pressed, barrel-fermented, aged and bottled at our winery. Th ...moree cool microclimate of this vineyard coupled with barrel fermentation brings out inviting pineapple fruit aromas and flavors complemented by hints of vanilla. Finishing with toasty oak, the rich complexity of this Chardonnay pairs extremely well with a variety of fish, poultry, and pasta dishesâ€”but feel free to experiment!

WINEMAKERS NOTES:
Barrel fermentation coupled with sur lie aging adds complexity and accentuates toasted oak and vanilla aromas, complementing the underlying tropical essence. As with the 2006 vintage, partial malo-lactic fermentation again introduces a honeyed note to the nose and lends to the creamy style of this wine. This Chardonnay is best enjoyed within two to three years of the vintage date. This release of our 2007 Santa Clara Valley Chardonnay totaled 1,250 cases

Vintage: 2007
Composition: 100% Chardonnay
Appellation: Santa Clara Valley
Alcohol: 14.5%
pH: 3.79
Release Date: August 2008

^$20.00

Donati Family Vineyard

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2006 Chardonnay

With true varietal character seamlessly integrated with its French Oak accents, the Donati Family Vineyard 2006 Chardonnay is our finest version of this elegant wine to date. We ut ...moreilized one and two year old French oak barrels in 80% of the Chardonnay lot. The remaining 20% was fermented in stainless steel tanks and only allowed to complete partial malolactic fermentation.

^$20.00

Blackjack Ranch Winery

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2006 Chardonnay â€œ21â€

Its difficult to describe this wine accurately without sounding like a salesperson. Simply put you will not find a deeper, richer, chardonnay in this price range, anywhere. I drank ...more one the other night at Matteis and scored it 94 points. I urge you to load up on this wine. Remember, you know where to find me if you disagree. Parker gave the 2005 version 90 points. Although he has not yet tasted this new release I assure you it is one of the best chardonnay values in the world!!!!

^$21.00

Passalacqua Winery

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2006 Chardonnay
Dry Creek Valley

This wine was fermented slowly at low temperatures to allow for complete development and to retain the fermentation bouquet and the wonderful fruit and floral flavors of chardonnay ...more were expressed: citrus flower, quava, kumquat, lychee, and sliced green apple.

^$21.00

Stonehedge Winery

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2005 Terroir Select Chardonnay
Santa Lucia Highlands

Santa Lucia Highlands which is geographically located at the Northern tip of Monterey County, has the best microclimate and soil for growing Chardonnay. Cool nights, follwed by fog ...moregy mornings and then high temperatures during the day provides ideal growing conditions. This region, already has some of the best Chardonnay produced in California, is also the home to "Old Oak Ranch." This wine is the result of marriage of 2 lots, (50-50) one of which has completed Malolactic fermentation and one which has not. Malolactic fermentation brings the wholeness and buttery character, and the non malolactic brings bright fruit and structure. The result is a supreme balance that could keep the most snobbish wine drinker happy.

^$21.00

Tolosa Winery

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2005 Tolosa Chardonnay
Edna Valley

Light white-gold. Viscous in the mouth, rich with crÃ¨me brulÃ©e and lemon curd. Lime-zest acidity, cardamom pod, tangerine and peach cobbler, with elegant oak tones in the backgro ...moreund. Enjoy at cool room temperature from large Montrachet-style stemware.

^$22.00

Domenico Wines

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2005 Chardonnay - Barrel Aged
Amador County

Light and fruity with aromas and flavors of lemon, grapefruit, lime and tropical fruits. Pair with veal, chicken, shrimp, crab, lobster, pork loin, butternut squash, Asagio, havart ...morei, pesto or banana pudding

^$22.00

Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards

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2006 Chardonnay
Santa Maria Valley

This wine derives from grapes grown in our Goodchild Vineyard. This award winning vineyard, located along Foxen Canyon Road near the village of Sisquoc in the Santa Maria Valley pr ...moreoduces consistently outstanding Chardonnay. For this bottling we selected our oldest vines which ripen slowly in this cool climate. The hand harvested grapes were whole cluster pressed and fermented in French oak barrels, two-thirds of which were new. The wine completed a natural secondary fermentation while in barrel. This is a rich and luscious Chardonnay with trademark aromas of ripe tropical fruits and toasty, pineapple and mango-like flavors.

^$22.00

Tulip Hill Winery

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2006 Tracy Hills Reserve Chardonnay
Mount Oso Vineyard

Our Chardonnay was fermented in Hungarian oak barrels for the sweet and delicate influences they impart. The gentle oak balances the lush tropical fruit adding complexity and fines ...morese. Aromas of banana, pear and vanilla bean are graced with a dash of nutmeg and clove. These flavors mingle with pineapple, Crenshaw melon and Fuji apples on a lovely soft texture. A breath of toasty oak rounds out the body, finishing with a clean citrus note. 540 Cases Produced

^$22.00

J Doran Vineyards

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2005 J Doran Vineyards "Taylor Ridge" Chardonnay
Livermore Valley

Provides a strong core upfront fruit with a backbone and structure that will allow to age well. Rich golden straw color. This is not a shy Chardonnay! Perfect with Chilean Sea Ba ...moress, Salmon and Prawns, with accents of pear, mango & apple. Delightful with light summer grilling, a variety of cheeses & fruits as well as a great stand alone wine.

^$22.00

Red Soles Winery

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2006 Chardonnay, Loverboy Ranch
Paso Robles

Ok, we all have heard it, "ABC (anything but Chard)". But for some strange reason, Chardonnay continues to be the leading white wine sold in the world, and for good reason. It's th ...moree most versatile of all the white wines made. Itâ€™s like that old sweater you carry around everywhere you go, â€œjust in caseâ€ you need it. And when the weather turns, itâ€™s always there for you. Our Chard is like that old sweater. You know it. Itâ€™s comfortable, and it always gets you out of a jam. Besides, we left the butter out and put the fruit back in!Old Sweater not included.

^$22.00

Four Gates Winery

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2004 Chardonnay
Santa Cruz Mountains

^$22.00

Beaucanon Estate

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2006 Chardonnay, Ehlers Lane Vineyard
Nevada County

Our newest Chardonnay is something very special and unique, even for us! Since we didn't make a
Jacques de Coninck bottling this year, so the fruit from our old vine blocks ...more went into our Estate Chardonnay
for a wine of amazing depth and structure.
A lovely, pale gold hue does not prepare you for this intense nose that fills the glass. Sweet Vanillin is noticeable, but just barely outweighs tropicle aromas of ripe pineapple, tangerine and coconut. Carmel, rosemary and limestone are just hinted at but will certainly develope over time.
The palate is full-bodied and rich but with a thrill of lemon acidity that keeps things lively. Flavors of citrus and subtle oak dominate but the nose is echoed as well. With time in the bottle or the decanter, the depth and layers of flavors will shine through.
A joy to drink on its own, this wine will also pair beautifull with luscious shellfish, like scallops, fresh crab in lemon butter or lobster Thermidor. For Contrast pairings, try it with mild Thai dishes, jerk chicken and roast pork.

^$22.00

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Top Rated Chardonnay

2005 Chardonnay
Santa Cruz Mountains

CAW Rating: 100

100

2 reviews

The wine produced from this vintage is from Chardonnay grapes grown exclusively in the Santa Cruz Mountains. This smooth refreching wine has an upfront applely-grassy start with a light oaky, buttery finish.

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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