2021 Boundary Breaks Vineyard Chardonnay Unoaked, USA, New York, Finger Lakes, Seneca Lake, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
89
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$16.00USD

As the name says, this is an unoaked Chardonnay from the Finger Lakes region of New York.  This is a cooler climate region and the resulting wine will be a great alternative for those oakaphobes or people just looking for something a bit different.  Light golden in color, some green hues, clear and bright.  The nose is clean with slight grapefruits, some minerality and a bit of "wet rocks".  Medium bodied.  On the palate, crisp and clean with a bit of grapefruit and minerality.  Nice finish.  This works better with food.  This would be excellent with lobster (no buttery oak).  Drink over th

2022 Terrazas de los Andes Reserve Chardonnay

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$19.99USD

Grown high in the mountains of Uco, this Chardonnay is a blend of 10 different vineyard sites. This wine offers a lot of minerality and acidity, a step away from overblown butter rich chardonnays. And that’s why it’s the ideal food companion. Lemon lime, quince, peach, light guava and a hint of wild sweet grass permeate. There is a slight oak influence (eight months on the lees) but it is minimal and allows the fruit, acidity and freshness to come through. ORIGIN: Mendoza, Argentina. ALCOHOL: 13.5%.

2018 Kumeu River Chardonnay Hunting Hill, New Zealand, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
96
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

One of the truly GREAT Chardonnays in the world.  This is very young right now, but still showed quite well.  Light gold in color with a bit of a green hue, clear and  bright.  The nose is great with lemons, slight pineapple, and spices.  Full bodied.  Energetic.  Great acidity.  On the palate, this is crisp and delicious.  Pineapple, slight vanilla and spice.  Long finish.  This took and hour or so to really open.  It could use another five to ten years in the cellar, but no real harm opening now.  Drink over the  next twenty years.  Great on its own but better with food.  This will work w

2018 Rivers-Marie Chardonnay Sonoma Coast, USA, California, Sonoma, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$50.00USD

Rivers Marie (the home winery of winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown) really knocked it out of the park with their 2018 Chardonnay.  This is the basic release (not a single vineyard) and it is wonderful.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has lemon curd, vanilla and spice.  Full bodied.  Silky light tannins.  Great acidity and balance.  On the palate, this is delicious. Lemons, vanilla and slight smoke.  Long finish.  This is delicious on its  own and will work well with sea food or even fowl.  Drink over the next seven to ten years.  An Excellent value!

2018 Sebastien Dampt Chablis 1er Cru Les Beugnons, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2018
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

In the world of Chablis, there are some exceptional producers but only a couple of those are "affordable".  Sebastian Dampt is one of them and that is especially true of the 1er Crus.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has green apples, slight grapefruits, slight gunpowder and spice.  Full bodied.  Excellent acidity.  On the palate, this is still a bit tight but opens quickly in the glass.  Green apples, grapefruits and slight char.  Long finish.  Delicious on its own, this is even better with food.  Of course, oysters would work very well, but so does a fruit salad.  Drink

Cuvaison 2021 Chardonnay, Hedon

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$70.00USD

The Small Lot expressions of Cuvaison (wine typically under 200 cases and a focused identity) have become some of the most exciting and anticipated wines coming out of California. This latest Chardonnay expresses both traditional and non-traditional Chardonnay notes. Typical would be citrus, lemon lime, white peach and guava. Untypical shows kumquat, amber resin, a slight sour green apple and an even slighter butter rum hard candy.

2017 Rivers-Marie Chardonnay B. Thieriot Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma Coast, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2023
Score: 
95
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$75.00USD

One of my favorite chardonnays.  Golden in color.  There is some oak on the wine but it is well done and mostly integrated on release.  After a couple of years in the cellar, it drinks amazingly.  The oak presents itself as a vanilla note which works well with the lemon cream and slight citrus of the Chardonnay.  Almost seamless texture.  Long finish.  Delicious on its own and a great match with swordfish or salmon.

2021 Sonoma-Cutrer Chardonnay The Cutrer, California, Sonoma, Russian River Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2021
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$36.00USD

My first time trying "The Cutrer".  It is a bit rounder than the Sonoma Coast Chardonnay.  It just depends on style preferences as to which one you might prefer.  Golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has apples, some butter, baking spices and a touch of nuttiness.  Full bodied.  Moderate acidity.  On the palate, apples and baked apples with some baking spices.  Good finish.  This is very nice on its own but struggled a bit with a vegetarian lasagna.  That said, on its own it is very accessible and also has some depth.  Drink over the next five years.  

2022 Sonoma-Cutrer Chardonnay Sonoma Coast, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$25.00USD

Screw capped.  Light golden in color with a slight greenish hue, clear and bright.  The nose is nice with apples, a slight nutty note, and baking spices.  Perfect for autumn.  Medium to full bodied.  Crisp acidity.  On the palate, apples with some oak notes.  Persistent finish.  This is a really enjoyable Chardonnay that works well on its own but is crisp enough to work nicely with food.  It went well with a variety of cheeses.  For the "oak adverse", give it a couple of years or a nice decant, but otherwise, this should drink well for five to seven years.  

Alma de Cattleya 2022 Chardonnay

Vintage: 
2022
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$28.00USD

Sonoma County is often overlooked in favor of Napa, but Alma de Cattleya wines, all from within Sonoma’s borders, is something of a love letter to what Sonoma can produce. Winemaker Bibiana Gonzales Rave has created wines that support and showcase Sonoma using various vineyard sites throughout the county. Her 2022 Chardonnay is a great example. Chardonnay pulled from cooler sites offers green apple, lemon-lime, resin, light, peach and pear, quince, apricot honeysuckle, and a whisper of honey. There is light acidity, but a beautiful balance and texture.

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