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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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Tolosa Winery

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2005 Tolosa Chardonnay (No Oak)
Edna Valley

This is Chardonnay laid bare; no ML, and no barrels to hide behind! Pure lime blossom, white peach, and tangerine fruit with a core of cool-climate minerality. This is a big, flavo ...morerful Chardonnay, but balanced by elegant, crisp acidity. Stellar with sushi, and equally at home beside simple tapas; warm roasted almonds, Spanish tortilla or thin slices of JamÃ³n Serrano & ripe melon.

^$16.00

Tobin James Cellars

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2006 Chardonnay "Radiance"
Paso Robles

Luscious tropical flavors overwhelm your senses.

^$16.00

Tobin James Cellars

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2005 Chardonnay "James Gang Reserve"
Paso Robles

^$25.00

Mountain View Vintners

CAW Rating: 95

100

1 reviews

2007 Chardonnay
Central Coast

Fruit originating from highly-regarded vineyards in the cool microclimates of the region has yielded a quintessential Central Coast Chardonnayâ€”as we have produced since 1985. The ...more rich tropical fruit aromas and ripe varietal flavors are balanced by the crisp acidity prized by wineries throughout the state. This wine is sure to please a wide range of palates as it develops in the bottle.

^$8.99

Loxton Cellars

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2005 Hawk Hill Chardonnay
Russian River Valley

My style of Chardonnay has crisp acidity and not too much oak. Since itâ€™s release in the fall, it has gained more richness to augment the citrus fruit notes and clean finish.

^$26.00

Oak Mountain Winery

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2003 Chardonnay
Temecula

Smooth honey like taste, with itâ€™s apple and melon flavors and softened with oak barrel aging. The wine perfectly balances with forward fruit and natural acidity that leads to a ...morelingering finish.

^$12.00

Oak Mountain Winery

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2005 No Oak Chardonnay
Temecula

Subtle notes of green apple and melon. Aromas of banana and melon. The absence of oak brings out the true flavor of quality Chardonnay grapes. The delicious wine will complement a ...morewide range of foods, particularly poultry and seafood.

^$14.00

Chateau Potelle

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2005 Chardonnay VGS
Mount Veeder

2005 vintage is very consistent from our previous vintages with one slight difference: it has a stronger acidity backbone, which is going to ensure very long aging for this wine. ...more

Entirely fermented with its own natural yeasts, the wine is unfined and unfiltered. That painstaking winemaking method protects the terroir and its delicate nuances making Chateau Potelle Chardonnay VGS unique and different and a favorite for many restauraneurs and wine lovers.

^$45.00

Cakebread Cellars

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2007 Chardonnay
Napa Valley

We source the grapes for our Napa Valley Chardonnay primarily from the cooler southern precincts of the valley, which stretch from the fog-chilled Carneros district to relatively w ...morearmer sites just north of the town of Napa. Blending fruit from diverse microclimates and soils allows us to craft a rich, ripe, elegantly structured Chardonnay thatâ€™s delicious on release, but also ages well in bottle. To enhance the wineâ€™s freshness and protect our vineyard workers from the high temperatures prevalent during harvest, we pick most of our fruit at night, ensuring it arrives at the winery in pristine condition.
We whole-cluster-pressed the grapes for optimum freshness, then fermented 85% of the juice in French oak barrels, with the balance fermenting in stainless steel tanks to preserve the wineâ€™s bright fruit character. Our 2007 Chardonnay aged sur lie (on the yeast lees) in French barrels, 35% new, for eight months, with periodic stirring of the lees to enrich texture and flavor. In 2007, 11% of the Chardonnay barrel lots were selected to undergo a secondary malolactic fermentation which softens the natural acidity resulting in a fuller bodied wine. Winemaker Julianne Laks tastes

^$37.00

Cakebread Cellars

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2006 Chardonnay Reserve
Carneros Napa Valley

We night-harvested 100% of our Carneros Chardonnay grapes and whole-cluster-pressed the fruit to obtain the freshest, purest juice possible. After cold-settling the must in tank f ...moreor 36 hours, 75% of the juice was inoculated with cultured yeast strains that enhance the rich fruit character of Chardonnay, while 25% fermented with native yeast strains fostering greater complexity and a pleasing minerality. All the juice fermented in French oak barrels, 35% new, with 14% undergoing a secondary, malolactic fermentation to engender a silky, creamy texture. Aging the wine in barrel on its primary yeast lees for 15 months, with plentiful stirring and no racking, further magnified its textural and flavor richness. After racking off the lees, the wine was bottled in January, 2008

^$55.00

Fritz Winery

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2005 Russian River Chardonnay
Russian River Valley

A classic golden straw-colored Chardonnay, showing a full body with the elegance of a crisp finish influenced by the coastal fog the Russian River Valley. This wine features a beau ...moretiful balance of tropical fruits, mineral notes, oak and bright lively acidity.

This balance will offer fullness in the mouth, without being unctuous, and ends in a delicate lingering finish.

^$60.00

Fritz Winery

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2005 Russian River Reserve Chardonnay
Russian River Valley

GOLD MEDAL WINNER
SONOMA COUNTY HARVEST FAIR

To create this wine I carefully selected 20 barrels out of 200. My target criterion was ...moreelegant opulence. The nose of this wine is very rich in creamy qualities however; the distinct lemon/apricot/ mineral qualities keep it light and elegant. The elegance is further enhanced with a tasteful accent of French oak. Again, not too much.

On the palate, the same character shows with fullness but the Russian River acid helps keep it in balance and gives it a long lingering elegant finish.

^$45.00

Camelot Vineyards

CAW Rating: 96

100

1 reviews

2005 Chardonnay
California

Our Chardonnayâ€™s bright apple and tropical fruit aromas, enhanced by subtle toasty oak tones, introduce creamy, mouthfilling apple, pear and citrus fruit flavors. This lovely win ...moree beautifully complements seafood and chicken dishes, game hens, pork roasts and cream sauce pastas.

Downhill Winery

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2005 Sleepy Hollow Chardonnay
Santa Lucia Highlands

^$16.00

Chappellet Vineyards

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2005 Napa Valley Chardonnay
Napa Valley

Vivid and rich, our Chardonnay is produced from fruit grown in the southern reaches of Napa Valley. Here the cooling marine influence of the San Pablo Bay is famed for enhancing th ...moree abundant fruit flavors of this varietal. This wine's vibrant citrus notes and silky texture are beautifully balanced, with depth and richness achieved from sur lie ageing in French oak barrels and full malolactic fermentation.

An aromatic mÃ©lange of tangerine, pear and nutmeg greets the nose. Upon tasting, waves of rich pineapple and lemon are framed by a subtle layer of oak spice. The palate is round and lush, and the natural acidity of these cool-climate Chardonnay grapes gives the wine a refreshing finish.

^$29.00

Keegan Cellars

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2001 Buena Tierra Chardonnay
Russian River Valley

A rush of ripe pineapple and tropicals greets the taster. With a few minutes of air the additional complexities reveal themselves one layer at a time. Fresh baked apple betty is up ...morestaged by extra toasty crÃ¨me brulee. Gooseberry moves aside for butterscotch. A custardly rich middle mouth is refeshed by the crisp, tangy finish that is bright and fresh. A seamless glide from sensational ripe fruit to clean and vibrant. It dares any food!

Keegan Cellars

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2001 Poplar/Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay
Russian River Valley

If long legged, lean, blond, and reserved is your style this is your paramour. Aromas wait for hours to reveal even a hint of their perfumed complexity and the fruit flavors yawn i ...morento exposition. But when they arrive one takes notice. Pear continues to be the fruit of choice when describing this wine. A slip of cinnamon and soft vanilla tones round out the development of the wine. A dessert is in here somewhere.

Chatom Vineyards

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2005 Chardonnay
Calaveras County

Aromas of enticing apricot and pear, butterscotch and peach introduce this Chardonnay. Followed by a rich mouth, full of creamy fruit and apricot jam. Finished by lingering butters ...morecotch & spicy fruit.

Won a "GOLD" & "BEST OF CLASS SIERRA FOOTHILLS" at the California State Fair

Won a "GOLD" at the Orange County Fair

Stainless Steel Fermented & Aged (ML Negative)

100% Estate Fruit

^$16.00

Ironstone Vineyards

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2005 Reserve Chardonnay
Calaveras County

The 2004 Reserve Chardonnay is a classic Chardonnay full of expressive flavors and aromas. Exhibiting fine mineral qualities that are a hallmark of grapes produced in the Sierra Fo ...moreothills, the Reserve Chardonnay has an extremely concentrated tropical fruit flavor with nuances of butterscotch, vanilla and ripe apple. The nose opens with savory scents of butter toffee and vanilla followed by exotic notes of spice and melon.

^$18.00

Bianchi Vineyards

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2004 Edna Valley Chardonnay
Edna Valley

This lovely wine has floral aromas of citus, pineapple and kiwi, followed by a creamy, toasty finish. 62% oak barrel fermented and sur-lie aged for six months. It is superbly blanc ...moreed and intensely flavored.

^$17.00

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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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