Chardonnay

This is a wonderful Champagne.  Light silvery gold in color.  A nice mousse with lots of tiny bubbles.  The nose is clean with seltzer, minerals and as it opens, slight cherry notes.  On the palate, this has great tart acidity.  Lots of lemons and some quince.  As it warms, some vanilla comes out.  Long chalky finish.  This is very young but drinking quite well right now.  Will go with just about any food.  Give it a few years and it will probably earn a perfect score.  

I had meant to open this with food, but we were starting to drink reds, and I wanted to open this earlier.  And the food was still being prepared, so we drank this as a cocktail.  It was very good that way, but luckily, there was a glass (or at least a few ounces left) to try with food.  Even better.  Light golden in color.  The nose is nice with lemon cream and slight vanilla.  It took a few minutes and then really picked up.  On the palate, this is crisp with good acidity.  Plenty of depth.  Lemon cream and slight vanilla again.  Good finish.  This is young and probably could use more air

This is drinking great at pop and pour though it seems like it will do five more years easily and probably ten.  Light gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has some grapefruit with a very slight vanilla.  Very clean.  On the palate this has ripe grapefruit, minerals, slightly chalky, with slight green apples.

Most of us have bottles laying around the house that either people brought over or they somehow ended up with.  So is the story of this wine.  It was actually won in a raffle.  Initially, the idea of actually drinking some cheap California Chardonnay seemed ridiculous.  Still, rather than be dismissive, the plan was to drink it.  After about a month of staring at the bottle, the time finally came.  And that good people, is why we need to open the bottle and taste.  Now, that is not to say this is going to blow away Montrachet or Rhys Chardonnay.  But, for under $15, this was solid.  No obvi

From a 375ml bottle.  Rhys makes some of the best Chards in California, but this is from purchased fruit and so carries the Alesia name.  It does seem like the oak treatment is different as well.  This is a sold Chardonnay but not nearly in the class of the Rhys Chards.  Light gold/green in color.  The nose is nice with minerals, spice, slight lemons and slight lumber.  On the palate, the minerals and lumber carry thru.  Some lemon.  Lean in body with good acidity.  This will work with a lots of foods.  

Light golden in color.  The nose has some oak/spice on it but not a ton.  Also some baked apples.  On the palate, the apples are fresh with a slight bit of ripeness.  The oak is a bit more persistent but again, not over the top.  Good bite of refreshing acidity.  Nice finish.  This works on its own as a cocktail wine but will work just fine with lighter fare.  It should make good drinking over the next few years.  It may not be worth long term cellaring, but it might surprise.  

Wow.  Rhys hits another home run with this Chardonnay.  Light golden in color.  The nose is great with lemon cream and vanilla.  The palate matches.  Smooth and almost seamless.  Depth and complexity.  So good right now that it would be a shame not to drink one this young.  Based on past history, this is likely to shut down for a bit and not emerge for 7 or so years.  So, if you don't like older Chards or can't wait, then just enjoy now!  Will work with medium or lighter weight foods.  

Light golden in color, slight green hue.  The nose is tight and not giving up much.  Revisiting it later doesn't add much; some minerality.  On the palate, there is more going on at this point.  Slightly oily texture which is nice.  Burnt lemon peel notes.  Ok finish.  Hard to tell where this is going.  It seems fresh and clean but in a shell right now.  Probably should hold or give it a lot of air.  Seem like it would work well with sea food and lighter dishes.  Hopefully, this has some upside with proper cellaring.  

Yellow/gold in color.  The nose has sulfur/smoke and lumber.  Someone mentioned marshmallow, and yes, that was on there too.  On the palate, this has a nice texture.  Very plush and creamy.  Lots of oak and charred oak.  A bit of lemon on the finish but also a bit of heat.  This is a stylistic thing and some will love it and for others, it is just not the type of Chardonnay the want.  If you are in the former, add a few points to the score.  If you are in the later, lay it down for 3 to 5 years and let the oak integrate a bit and hope the fruit can emerge.  

Deep golden in color.  Perhaps showing some advanced signs but not all the way oxidized by any means.  The nose has some minerals, slight lemon peel and a bit of spice.   Someone mentioned caramel, but it seemed more like butterscotch from the oak.  On the palate, this isn't flabby but the acidity isn't noticeable either.  Lots of minerals, some lemon.  A bit of depth.  Slightly clipped on the finish.  Overall, this is a very nice Chardonnay, but when one buys and pays for Montrachet, the expectations are high.  This will work with lighter foods.