2017 J. Lohr Chardonnay Arroyo Seco Monterey, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
86
Grade: 
B
Current Price: 
$10.00USD

An inexpensive Chardonnay that is a pretty good value for the money.  Light golden in color.  The nose offers up some melon and tropical fruit and just a touch of spice.  On the palate, this has a bit of crispness.  The melon carries thru.  Creamy texture.  Slightly bitter/woody on the finish.  Worked well with assorted salads.  Drink now.  

2015 Ceritas Chardonnay Charles Heintz Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma Coast, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
94
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

My first time trying this and it was excellent.  Pop and pour and enjoyed with a shishito pepper dish that worked quite well.  Pale silvery/gold in color.  The nose has a salinity that is nice with minerals and slight green apples.  On the palate, this is not as austere as I had been led to believe.  In fact, it is very round and full bodied.  Nice apple fruit with underlying minerality.  Great acidity.  Long finish.  Delicious wine that is drinking well today but probably has a decade left.  It seems like it has the stuffing to mature and gain in complexity so probably still some upside.  

2015 Maison Champy Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Chenevottes, France, Burgundy, Wine Reviews

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$78.00USD

Light gold/green in color.  The nose is nice with lemons, slight vanilla, and a bit of grapefruit.  On the palate, this is nice but a bit more depth would be nice.  Decent acidity.  Some lemon and grapefruit.  Went well with a vegetarian pasta dish.  This cost $70 and that is the biggest thing.  Hard to justify that unless one lays it down the cellar.  But, with white Burgundies, that raises the risk of premature oxidation.  I am not sure what the answer is, but I find myself buying less White Burgundy.  That said, if you have this, it should be cellared for at least five more years.  

2014 Pahlmeyer Chardonnay Napa Valley, USA, California, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$70.00USD

Always a top Chardonnay known for its richness, this does not disappoint.  Light golden/green in color.  The nose has tropical fruits, melon, and a bit of a vanilla/floral note.  Very pretty.  On the palate, this is full bodied.  Enough acidity to make it lively.  Melons with a touch of butteryness.  Long finish.  It is a delicious wine and drinks well without food.  It will work with richer foods or even a lighter salad.  Drinking at peak right now, no hurry but probably should be consumed in the next five years.  

2015 Sebastien Dampt Chablis 1er Cru Les Beugnons, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$35.00USD

Chablis continues to be an excellent source or white Burgundy especially when considering the price and the premox issues.  While Chablis is not immune on either issue, it is a bit better on both.  This is a newer-ish producer making some great wines and reasonable pricing.  Light silvery gold in color.  The nose is very nice with green apples and chalk.  Very clean.  On the palate, those flavors continue with a nice depth and complexity.  Very nice acidity.  Some grapefruit as well.  Long finish.  This will work great with salads and sea foods but also with fowl dishes.  It really does beg

2016 Domaine Naturaliste Chardonnay Discovery, Australia, Margaret River, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$19.00USD

Well, the label says they apply sustainable and holistic Grape growing and winemaking techniques to craft perfumed wines with sympathetic textures.  So, there's that.  In spite of that gibberish, I tried the wine and it's a good wine and a nice enough price point under $20.  Light golden in color.  The nose shows some sawdust and butter but also some nice grapefruit fruit.  Even a bit of a floral note.  On the palate, the oak is not so pronounced.  The grapefruit comes thru with a decent acidity.  Nice finish.  This will work nicely on its own or with some lighter foods.  Probably needs to

2015 Rhys Chardonnay Anderson Valley, USA, California, Mendocino, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2015
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$45.00USD

I love Rhys Chardonnays, however, this is not at their top level.  That said, it is half the price of those and this is very much in the style of those making this also a wine I love.  Golden/green in color.  The nose has vanilla and lemon curd with a nice minerality.  On the palate, this has a creamy texture.  Minerals with lemon curd.  Good acidity.  Long finish.  There is some oak showing here but not much.  It needs a bit of heft for a food pairing but will go nicely with heavier fish and fowl dishes.  Great on its own too.  

2017 Samuel Billaud Chablis 1er Cru Mont de Milieu, France, Burgundy, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$45.00USD

This is drinking quite well.  At a time when Burgundy prices are soaring and the "best" producers are unaffordable, Chablis still offers the ability to get a great wine.  The question is how long will this continue.  Light green/silver with a slight gold in color.  The nose is pretty classic with crushed shells, chalk and green apples.  On the palate, this has a much creamier texture and more rounded than expected.  Presumably that is due to barrel fermentation and a bit higher alcohol levels.  No matter, it still has a nice green apple and mineral flavor set with is quite refreshing and de

1998 Duval-Leroy Champagne Blanc de Chardonnay Brut, France, Wine Review

Vintage: 
1998
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$70.00USD

At age 21, this wine is drinking well but starting to show a bit of age. Light to medium golden in color.  The nose has some simple syrup, hay and an applesauce quality (think slightly oxidized apples).  There is a nice bit of acidity.  Very clean.  Slight citrus on the palate (lemon-ish).  Good finish.  Some level of complexity and depth.  A very nice way to start an evening.  It will work with just about any food.  If you own any though, it should be drunk up in the next five years unless you like older Champagne.  

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