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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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Carmody McKnight Estate Wines

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2006 Estate Chardonnay 100% Free Run

Free-run is rare in Chardonnay because it requires the rarest of vineyards. Free, free at last -- free of the clutches of excessive oak!

NOTES: Rich, tropical fruit ...more, pear, apple, fig, and melon. Clean and elegant in style, profound in structure, with minimal use of oak discreetly apparent. Always in balance; always a new tantalizing taste subtlety.

Carmody McKnight Estate Wines

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2006 Estate Chardonnay
Marian's Vineyard

A big, ripe, and richly fruity 100% Free-run Chardonnay with a concentrated core of perfectly ripened white peach, pear, and fig. Turns elegant and extraordinarily delicate, enhanc ...moreed by a citrus-infused tropical finish. The unwoody â€œrealâ€ Chardonnay is rare in California -- dependent on the synergy of ideal soils and microclimates! Free-run, a major factor behind the fresh, tropical-rich quality, is the pure juice that flows free of the skins and seeds prior to pressing the fruit. Keeping the Free-run separate results in a cleaner, crisper, natural juice to ferment.

Carmody McKnight Estate Wines

CAW Rating: 90

100

1 reviews

Kathleen Late Harvest Chardonnay

Deep golden color, vibrant, pure fruit aromas of ripe apricot, Asian pear, tangerine, and pineapple. The finish is aromatic and lingering. Luscious yet wonderfully fresh and lively ...more, and always alluring!

Silver Rose Winery

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2005 Chardonnay D'argent
Napa Valley

Our 2005 Chardonnay is produced from grapes sourced at the Bella Vista Vineyard. The grapes were whole cluster pressed and barrel fermented in 50% new French oak. The wine went thr ...moreough Malo-lactic Fermentation in barrel and was aged for 11 months sur lees until bottling. Aromas of roasted hazelnuts, caramel and candied citrus rind. The palate is soft and round on the entry followed by citrus, melon and pineapple. This clean and elegant wine has a light minerality on the finish and will age well for the next 3 to 5 years.

^$39.00

Aetna Springs Cellars

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2000 Chardonnay

Golden, full-bodied, with a rich supple and elegant texture....an intense chardonnay varietal character, smooth and buttery, with hints of toasty oak and nutmeg spice.

C ...morehardonnay grape yields are small and require special care in the wine-makig process to produce a fine, long-lived wine. Such care is reflected in the lovely balance of fruit, oak and acidity. Nov. 1, 2000 San Francisco Chronicle The Chronicle's Top 100 Wines for 2000: "Aetna Springs 1998 Chardonnay $16. Here is a lovely, bright Chardonnay with great balance, citrus flavors, pear and apple and not at all heavily oaked. A great value!"

^$16.00

Grayson Cellars

CAW Rating: 94

100

1 reviews

2006 Central Coast Chardonnay
Central Coast

The 2006 Central Coast Chardonnay exudes aromas of ripe apple, orange blossom with hints of lemon pie, vanilla, and caramel. The palate is dominated by apple, mandarin orange, and ...moretropical fruits with lively acidity heightening the intensity of the abundant fruit flavors.

Artesa Vineyards & Winery

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2005 Chardonnay
Carneros

An exuberant expression of great Carneros Chardonnay. Aromatically and in the mouth this wine is full of lemon, peach, apple, and melon with hints of kiwi and lime. Beautifully mul ...moreti-layered, this wine also has some oaky smoke and spice that melt into a lingering vanilla and butter finish. Perfectly balanced with the gentle tingle of acid which keeps the fruit lively yet still preserving a silky texture and finish. This wine will age gracefully.

Goosecross Cellars

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2005 Estate Chardonnay
Carneros

Our Chardonnay ripened slowly in the cool, Carneros fog, intensifying the fruit and lending it our signature crisp finish. Geoff fermented about 40% of the wine in barrels for full ...moreness and complexity, and the balance at low temperatures in stainless steel for purity of fruit. By bringing the two together he created one wine that's both opulent and lively. Bright and nicely focused. Abundantly fragrant with distinctive and intense fruit. Loaded with spicy pineapple, rich guava, creamy vanilla, and crisp citrus. The lingering signature finish is the mark of several months of aging sur lies.

^$29.00

Whitehall Lane Winery

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2005 Chardonnay
Carneros

This offering has complex aromas of lemon, pineapple, some butterscotch and a hint of oak. The wine is medium to full bodied with crisp citrus, apple and fancy oak flavors. It has ...morea long, lingering and flavorful finish.

^$28.00

Stephenâ€™s Cellar

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2005 Chardonnay
McBride Vineyard

This vintage inaugurated a change in style for my Chardonnay. In the previous 32 years in making Chardonnay, traditional Burgundian techniques were used. I changed to a more modern ...more and personally preferred method. The fruit came from our neighboring MacBride Vineyard. After receiving the cool early morning picked grapes September 22, they were whole cluster pressed. Most of the juice was transferred to a tank and refrigerated down to 55*F with the balance transferred to new, one and two year old French and American barrels. In years past, all the juice went to barrel and no refrigeration was used. The tank and barreled juice was inoculated with CY3079 yeast. After 10 days in tank the 12* brix juice was then barreled. The barrelsâ€™ lees were stirred occasionally for a couple months then allowed to sit undisturbed until racking and fining in April. In August the wine was filtered and bottled. The change in technique retained more fruit aroma and crispness. I think this beverage is more food friendly rather than an oak, butter and alcohol concoction. This wineâ€™s aroma of citrus and tropical fruits enhanced with a touch of toasty oak make this beverage wonderful for any occasion.

Buena Vista Carneros

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2005 Carneros Chardonnay
Carneros

The aromas in this 2005 Carneros Chardonnay are a combination of crisp green apple, orange blossom, clove and sweet Meyer lemon. It is a classic example of Carneros Chardonnay and ...more shows all the unique characteristics of the regionâ€™s terroir. The flavors on the palate show apple and pear layered with bright citrus and lemon curd. Subtle notes of vanilla and spice add texture and round off the long, smooth finish.

^$25.00

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

Humanitas Wine Company

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2006 Humanitas 'Oak Free' Monterey Chardonnay
Monterey

^$16.00

The R. H. Phillips Winery

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2005 Toasted Head Chardonnay
California

Fastest growing Chardonnay. Bright tangerine and pear fruit aromas are highlighted by clove and nutmeg in this mouth-watering, estate bottled Chardonnay. This medium-bodied wine is ...more aged in French and American oak, has a crisp acidity, a creamy texture and a long finish, with pear and toasty butterscotch oak flavors. A great match for seabass with a fruit salsa or goat-cheese stuffed chicken breasts.

^$14.00

Martin Alfaro Wines

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2005 Martin Alfaro Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay
Santa Cruz Mountains

Golden straw color, citrus and tropical fruits, toasty oak, vanilla, and a hint of butterscotch. Refreshing acidity on the finish.

^$20.00

Martin Alfaro Wines

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2005 Martin Alfaro Sleepy Hollow Chardonnay
Santa Lucia Highlands

Golden straw color, pear and citrus fruits, toasty oak, vanilla, and a buttery finish. Rich and ripe with excellent acidity.

^$25.00

Alfaro Family Vineyards & Winery

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2005 Alfaro Family Vineyards Estate Chardonnay
Estate grown chardonnay, Santa Cruz Mountains

Golden Straw color, aromas of lemon curd and other citrus plus tropical fruits, toasty oak, vanilla and a hint of butterscotch. Refreshing acidity, minerality and a lengthy finish.

^$25.00

Presidio Vineyard & Winery

CAW Rating: 96

100

1 reviews

2006 Chardonnay
Estate

This Chardonnay is from our certified organic and BiodynamicÂ® (Demeter) cool climate estate vineyard west of the Santa Rita Hills. Sorted before whole-cluster pressing into Allie ...morer and Vosge French oak barrels. The wine was barrel-fermented and went through 100% malo-lactic fermentation while resting on the lees for 10 months and bottled unfiltered.

^$19.95

Inspiration Vineyards & Winery

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2005 Inspiration Vineyards Chardonnay
Estate, Russian River Valley

Burgundian in style, you will find an abundance of apples and pears on the nose and a full rich mouth feel that is fruit forward with crisp acidity; flinty with flavors of melon, p ...moreears and citrus.

^$18.00

Elliston Vineyards

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2002 Chardonnay

Flavors of crisp apple and tropical fruit followed by vanilla bean and spicy cinnamon. Alder smoked trout, Brie and walnuts or acorn squash with bacon are enhanced by this juicy Ch ...moreardonnay.

^$16.00

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Top Rated Chardonnay

2004 Carneros Chardonnay
Ã–dmann Vineyard

CAW Rating: 100

100

1 reviews

Fresh sweet apple, honey rich mouthfeel

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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