2020 Ron Rubin Winery Pam’s UN-Oaked California Chardonnay, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2020
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$14.00USD

This is an affordable, easy drinking white wine from California made win no oak (100% Stainless steel tanks).  Silvery green/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose is clean with tropical fruits (Some pineapple).  Slightly viscous though light bodied.  Enough residual sugar to taste it but not overtly sweet.  The palate has a "juicy-fruit gum" note along with tropical fruits (maybe some papaya).  It drinks very nicely on its own and would work well with a fruit salad.  Drink over the next year.  This is one of those wines that will have some detractors, but for those looking for a refres

2018 Cramele Recaş Solo Quinta Recas, Romania, Transylvania, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$26.00USD

According to the label, this is a white blend of Chardonnay, Feteasca Regala, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscat Ottonel but also Cadarcă (known as Kadarka in Hungary) which is a red varietal.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is tight but with air opens up a bit.  Some cantaloupe and a bit of minerality.  Slightly oily texture.  Bold flavors on the palate.  This is dry with minerals, limes, melon and slight cherries.  A long finish.  This is a really serious wine that seems like it should hold up for five to seven years.  There is a nice complexity to it now on its own but should also

2015 Maison Albert Bichot Mâcon-Lugny Les Charmes, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
83
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

This is an inexpensive Chardonnay.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has some gun flint with a touch of peach.  I suspect it had more fruit when it was younger.  On the palate, a bit chalky with slight peach as well.  A bit bitter on the finish.  This seems past prime and should be consumed soon.  It will work better with food, seafood would be a nice choice.  

2019 Simi Chardonnay Sonoma County, USA, California, Sonoma, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

This took some time to open and showed a better on day 2.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with smoke, minerals butterscotch, and a touch of grapefruits.  Medium to full bodied.  On the palate, the minerality comes thru along with some citrus.  Very clean finish.  This drinks nicely on its own but much better with some food to bring out the subtleties.  Salmon or heavier seafood dishes would work well.  Drink over the next three to five years.  There is an upside to cellaring.  

2019 Fetzer Chardonnay, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$10.00USD

A very nice value in California Chardonnay.  This does see just a touch of oak and partially went thru Malolactic fermentation giving the wine a bit more roundness and accessibility.  Light golden in color.  The nose has yellow grapefruits, and a touch of green apples.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, the yellow grapefruit comes thru along with a bit of tropical fruit.  Nice acidity.  Drinks easy.  This drinks well on its own and would be a nice summer sipper on the deck.  It will work well with salmon or lighter salads.  Drink over the next few years.  

2019 Rivers-Marie Chardonnay Sonoma Coast, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2019
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$40.00USD

I am a big fan of the RM Chardonnays.  This is the "generic" non-single vineyard offering.  It might be a hair less than those others but it is also less expensive and an outstanding wine on its own.  Light gold with some green swirls, shimmering bright.  The nose is classic with lemons, vanilla, slight chalk and a hint of mint.  Full bodied but with cut.  Lots of energy.  On the palate, this is delicious right from the go.  Lemons, vanilla, slight spice with a long finish.  Great texture.  Young, of course, but this should easily do another ten years as it matures.  Might even get better. 

2018 Kistler Chardonnay Vine Hill Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$120.00USD

Although young, this wine is a beauty.  Kistler used to have a lot of oak on its Chardonnays.  Some loved it, some didn't, but this wine seems to have backed off a bit on the oak and upped the acidity.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has some pineapple, and lemons.  With air, a lemon candy note comes thru.  There is a fair amount of oak showing too coming thru as caramel and vanilla but it is already integrating.  Full bodied with a lovely viscous, oily texture.  On the palate, this is crisp with nice minerality.  The lemon/lemon candy comes thru.  Long finish.  This drinks ni

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