Best Unoaked: 2018 Morgan Metallico Unoaked Chardonnay
Courtesy of Wine.com
Every once in a while, a winemaker does away with their warm, toasty oak barrels only to ferment their chardonnay juice in stainless steel barrels, coaxing out bright, vivid, fruity flavors. Such a twist in the process is best left to professionals like the folks at Morgan winery who whole-cluster press their grapes to keep their chardonnay bright and cold.
The result is a lovely white with honeysuckle florals, and lemon and lime zest. There’s a poached pear richness and a vein of wet-river rock minerality coursing through a long, almost tropical-fruit-driven finish.
What Is Chardonnay History
Experts agree that the Chardonnay grape was born in France in the Burgundy region.
Chardonnay is the result of a cross between Pinot Noir and Gouais blanc as per a recent study from the University of California, Davis .
Chardonnay gained increased popularity in California from the famous Chateau Montelenas blind tasting in Paris in 1976.
Check out the movie Bottle Shock . Since 2000 Chardonnay is the most widely planted grape in California.
These days Chardonnay is the most widely planted white grape globally and the second most planted white grape in France, followed by Sauvignon Blanc.
Chamisal Vineyards Sta Rita Hills Chardonnay 2018
This Chardonnay is all about texture, with creamy, buttery aromas previewing the experience that awaits in glass. Each soft and velvety sip arrives with mild acidity, amplifying subtle mineral notes that reign in its weighty viscosity. Enjoy with a rich risotto or classic roast chicken dinner. Average price: $38. Rating 89.
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Kokomo Winery Peters Vineyard Chardonnay 2019
Coastal fog in the West Sebastopol region of the Russian River Valley allows the Chardonnay grapes for this wine to remain on vines well into October, all the while developing expressive aroma and flavor compounds. Its orchard and stone fruit notes dazzle from the get go, while French oak and bracing acidity provide controlled, well-balanced opulence. For food pairings, we suggest some simple grilled chicken thighs with a peppery arugula salad. Average price: $32. Rating: 93.
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One of the best known and most widely planted grapes, as well as being one of the so-called noble varieties, chardonnay is responsible for some of the most famous wines in the world.
It is a sign of how ubiquitous and adaptable this easy to grow grape is, allowing it to take on different character in different locations: whether it is local soil, topography and climate conditions or the individual ideas of the winemaker, organic or not, oak ageing or not that makes it so different from most other grapes.
Chardonnay has spread from its original base in central France, the home of the celebrated pristine, mineral Chablis and rich Burgundies, to take root around the world in almost every great wine-growing region. It can thrive in both cool climate regions as well as hotter ones.
The grape is now grown in the sun-baked slopes of New South Wales, the desserts of Chile and the coastal valleys of California as well as the green hills of the English shires. And then there is great chardonnay from Oregon, New Zealand, Greece, Italy, Argentina, South Africa and other parts of France each area producing wines that are unique to their locations and sometimes seem to come from different grapes.
Let us not forget that chardonnay is also the sole or dominant grape for most of the great champagne names as well as glorious English sparkling wines but both of those are for other reviews on other days.
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Qunita Da Espiga Vino Tinto
This red wine from Espiga is great for heartier cold-weather fare and barbecue. While a bit heavy in terms of mouthfeel, theres obvious red and black fruit and a bit of leather and spice. Its good enough to be the house red at many restaurants, at least during happy hour. And if winter drags, use it as a great base for mulled wine.
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Best Australian: 2017 Vasse Felix Heytesbury Chardonnay
Courtesy of Wine.com
Between the regulating ocean breezes, the warming coastal current, and the oldest gravel loam soils in the world, Australias Margaret River region on the continents south-western tip has a confluence of ideal conditions for making excellent wine. The folks at Vasse Felix exploit this pristine landscape to their best advantage with their Heytesbury Chardonnay. The 2010 vintage won 11 wine show trophies and put their chardonnay on the map. This 2017 vintage is a delicious continuation of that tradition of excellence and acclaim.
Oaky and buttery, with notes of lemon, grapefruit, peach and honeydew, this bottle harbors both nutty and toasty elements with a crisp acidity. The fruit flavor is strong with this one and its immensely satisfying, boasting a hearty finish on the way down.
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Terminology: The Key Terms To Know When Buying Wine
ABV: Alcohol By Volume the percentage of ethanol in a beverage.
Appellation: A legally defined and protected geographical area used to identify where grapes for a wine were grown.
Assemblage: A French term for the grape varieties used to blend a wine.
Blind tasting: This allows for an unbiased evaluation of the wine and is when the identity of the wine is hidden from the taster.
Dry wine: Red or white wines where all the residual sugar has been fermented.
Full-bodied: A term for wines that are usually higher in alcohol, glycerin and concentration.
Tannins: Extracted from the grape skins and stems, these are the backbone of a wine and need to be ripe for a wine to feel good in your mouth.
Variety: The type of grape used to make a wine.
Vintage: The year a wine was produced.
Best California : Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Karia Chardonnay 2019
Vivinos tips: Good value for money. Similar wines usually cost 83% more. | Featured in Best wines between $20 and $40 right now
Region: United States, Napa ValleyTasting notes: Apricot, Pineapple, Butterscotch, Oak, Honey.
The heart of Stags Leap Wine Cellars is undoubtedly the estate vineyards and extraordinary care is taken to assure that a wines aroma, flavor, and texture convey a sense of place.
The goal is to create wines of classic beauty wines with balance, complexity and harmony.
The same classic style of the Estate wines is also expressed in the Napa Valley Collection, which consists of three wines: AVETA Sauvignon Blanc KARIA Chardonnay and ARTEMIS Cabernet Sauvignon.
Vivinos tips: Good value for money. Similar wines usually cost 61% more.
Region: United States, Sonoma Coast
Tasting notes: Lemon, Pear, Apricot, Wet Stone.
Showing balanced depth and complexity, light straw to golden color, aromas unfold with layers of lemon, pear, apricot and wet stone minerality.
This vintage shows crispness on the palate, with a lush and balanced citrus finish.
Region: United States, Dundee Hills
Tasting notes: Apple, Pear, Butter, Oak, Toast.
These flavors carry through on the palate to display a balanced and elegant wine that delivers firm acidity, richness and persistence.
It pairs well with a vegetarian dish, rich fish dishes like salmon and tuna, and poultry dish.
Vivinos tips: Good value for money. Similar wines usually cost 63% more.
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Best With Unlimited Budget
Tasting Notes
Lime curd, smoke, and mango notes define this wines nose. Some ginger, too, as well as nuances of papaya. Full-bodied and mouthwatering, the wine has a palate of concentrated flavors. Focused and clear, Aubert Chardonnay Larry Hyde & Sons is delicious and irresistible to sip. Definitely one of the best Chardonnay in California. An exceptionally balanced wine that begins with great aromatics of smoke, honeysuckle, lemon blossoms, mangoes, and lime curd.
The palate is full-bodied and rich, packed with flavors of lemons, pineapple, guavas, ginger, almonds, and floral notes. The creaminess is intense, adding a certain level of depth. Fortunately, its not overpowering as the medium-high acidity brings balance and freshness. Great, irresistible finish.
Best Under $: 2017 Maison Champy Pernand
Courtesy of Wine.com
Maison Champy, Burgundys oldest wine company, has been in business for some 300 years. You dont get that kind of longevity by messing around with the quality of your product. Their Pernand-Vergelesses chardonnay benefits from the diverse soils of their hilly vineyards and the experience of many generations of winemakers. How they managed to keep this bottle under $100 is still a mystery.
Lemon aromas with white nectarine, apple and peach flavors are on the palate. Wispy minerals add to the ripe texture making for an extended and satisfying finish.
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Penfolds Koonunga Hill Chardonnay
Penfolds
A Penfolds classic since 1991, this chardonnay consistently ranks high as one of the top-value white wines. This Australian chardonnay combines a blend of grapes from different vineyards and is bottled immediately after fermentation. The result yields a robust white wine with hints of melon and minerals . This wine is the perfect choice if you need a dry white wine to pair with seafood or chicken.
The Top Five Best Wine Brands
Masseto
Based in sunny Tuscany, in the Bolgheri region of Italy, Masseto is a cult winery with an iconic vineyard thats known for producing top quality vintages. The brand has received multiple 100-point scores from critics and is notorious for being difficult to get hold of. Production totals around just 30,000 bottles a year and the average bottle costs around $790. The vineyard, which was first founded by Lodovico Antinori in 1981, converted entirely to organic farming in 2012 and keeps climate change at the forefront of its production methods. The brand was a hit from its first release in 1986 and is one of the most well-known and best-performing wineries.
Screaming Eagle
Screaming Eagle Winery and Vineyards is a Californian wine estate and another cult winery. The brand produces the most expensive wines in North America and its Sauvignon Blanc occupies the top spot, with an average sales price of $5,974. In order to buy its wine directly from the brand, buyers must sign up for a waiting list. The average time to wait on this list before being able to buy a bottle is around 12 years. Due to a surge in high-profile counterfeit wine cases, each bottle of Screaming Eagle comes with a bubble-coded security seal. It keeps its doors firmly shut to the public.
Bodega Catena Zapata
Chateau Latour
Heitz Cellar
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Best Red: Denner Vineyards The Ditch Digger 2017
Not only is Denner Vineyards committed to producing their wine through eco-conscious farming practices, but they also make a delicious bottle of red. Cultivated from the western edge of Paso Robles, the 2017 Ditch Digger has all the flavor and character of an exciting wine for any occasion.
Expect bright aromas of black raspberry, rose petal, and brown spices like cardamom and cinnamon. Super juicy and lifted with boysenberry and cranberry, this red is zesty and refreshing with a cocoa-dusted finish.
How To Find The Best Bottles Of Low
There are a few key specifications you can look for to identify low-carb wine.
- Alcohol by volume : The alcohol level is required to be listed, and can be found on the bottle as ABV,or alcohol by volume. For a low-carb wine, aim for 13 percent or less.
- Residual sugars: Low-sugar wines are naturally low in carbs because sugar is a type of carb. Finding residual sugars can be a bit more challenging to decipher compared to ABV. The metric most likely will be listed on a wines website on the tech sheet . Low-carb wines will have less than 10 grams per liter .
- Dry taste: Even if you cant find the exact amount of residual sugars, you can use your taste buds as a guide to find low-carb wines. Wines range from bone dry to very sweet, and those on the drier end naturally contain less sugar.
The drier the wine, the lower the sugar content. Varieties like Champagne, sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, pinot grigio, merlot, pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon, and Malbec generally contain somewhere between 2 to 4 grams of carbs per 5-ounce glass, says Lauren Harris-Pincus, MS, RDN, founder of NutritionStarringYOU.com and author of The Protein-Packed Breakfast Club.
Sweeter wines like port, moscato, plum, and other dessert wines will contain much more sugar, so if you are seeking a low-carb wine, those are probably not your best choices.
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Evening Lands Seven Springs Chardonnay 2019
From Oregons Eola-Amity Hills AVA, tropical fruit and banana runt aromas spring from this Chardonnay with lovely elegance. Generous acidity on the palate makes the wine extremely refreshing and complements its broad texture. On the finish, expect notes of sherry and yeasty brioche. Average price: $35. Rating: 90.
Charles Krug Winery Carneros Chardonnay 2019
From Carneros the southernmost tip of the Napa Valley this wine celebrates the vibrant, fruity side of Chardonnay. Citrus and tropical aromas define its nose and set up a clean and lean palate. A slight salinity and textural grip bring an enjoyable and unexpected dose of complexity, especially given the price. Average price: $21. Rating: 88.
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Heron Hill Classic Chardonnay Unoaked
Heron Hill Winery
One of many wineries in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York, Heron Hill has tons of notable wines. But the one that fits this list best is their unoaked classic chardonnay. Its bright fruit notesdisplaying cantaloupe or hints of green apple and lemoncommand a fascinating taste worth trying. Pair this wine with seafood, nutty cheeses, or a homemade shrimp scampi. Its impressive profile far surpasses its price!
How To Drink Wine
The easiest way to find the right bottle of wine for you and your occasion is simply to ask a wine expert or sommelier for their recommendations based on your taste. If youre pairing wines for dinner, tell the expert what dishes youll be making. If youre simply buying a bottle of wine to broaden your horizons, the most important things to state are your price range and flavour preferences.
When it comes to preparing and drinking wine, there are differences based on the colour of the wine. Red and fortified wines should be served a touch below room temperature, while white, rose and sparkling wines benefit from a chill. Red wines should be kept in the fridge for around 45 minutes before serving, while white, rose and sparkling wines can stay in the cool for around two hours.
White wine glasses are typically smaller than red wine glasses, as they dont need the same surface area to oxidise. When drinking the wine, hold the glass by the stem rather than the bowl. This will help the wine to keep at the same temperature, rather than warming up in your hand.
Pour 30 to 60 ml of wine into a glass to taste it before serving. Swirl the wine in the glass, holding the stem, to expose it to a larger surface area. Smell the wine as you swirl it to release the flavours and varied aromas. A higher quality wine will offer different aromas the more its swirled.
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Black Stallion Estate Winery Heritage Napa Valley Chardonnay 2020
Talk about a steal: This is a barrel-fermented, Napa Valley Chard that comes in at less than $25. Aged for up to seven months in oak, the wine received twice-monthly stirring on lees to enhance its creamy texture. That richness is offset by tropical fruit and flinty aromas, as well as lively acidity. This wine is an exhibition in balance and restraint. Average price: $24. Rating: 89.
Macari Vineyards Chardonnay Estate 2019
The cooler climate of the North Fork of Long Island provides the ideal setting for making fruit-forward Chardonnay like this unaged, stainless steel bottling from Macari. Passionfruit and mango aromas mingle with steely green notes on the nose, transforming to orchard fruit and pleasingly persistent acidity on the palate. This wine has light salad written all over it. Average price: $24. Rating: 89.
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Okay But Like Is Trader Joes Wine Actually Any Good
Ummmm, yes! I recently took an incredible wine tasting class in Porto, Portugal with Rafael de Lima, a wine producer and sommelier, who told us that he loves stopping by Trader Joes Wine Shops when hes in the U.S. for work. I believe his exact words were, For bottles between $10 and $18, you cant get much better than Trader Joes. If you dont believe me, believe him.
Now, without further ado, ze dranks…
Hartford Court Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2020
Sonomas Russian River Valley has proven caliber on the high-quality Chardonnay front, and this expression is a fine example. Ripe and baked stone fruits arrive in luxurious harmony along with the influence of 9 ½ months of French oak aging. Subtle mineral texture on the palate provides the icing on the cake for this classic California Chardonnay. Average price: $35. Rating: 89.
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La Nevera Seleccon Especial Rosado
Its rosé season, so before loading up the camper or raft, I recommend seeking out a box or two of La Nevera Seleccíon Especial Rosado as a perfect companion for outdoor summer fun! The wine is made from 100% Garnacha grapes that are grown in the heart of Northern Spain at 350m above the Ebro river, which adds freshness and vibrancy to the delicate, yet fruity Provençal-style wine. Only 1,500 cases are made a year of this affordable super value of a treat, so seek some out now before its too late! Max Kuller, Managing Partner & Sommelier, Estadio
