Chardonnay Wine

Expert Review - Vintage 2023 

Stuart Pigott writes:  This combines the creamy-oily side of white Burgundy with succulent candied pineapple and lychee fruit plus touches of almonds and smoke. The interplay of the ripeness and vitality is delightful and impressive. Long, quite compact finish with excellent mineral freshness. Drink or hold.  - James Suckling 93

Bruce Sanderson writes:  Whiffs of the seashore and oyster shell mingle with peach and melon notes in this ripe white. Open and fluid, with a moderately long, spice-tinged finish. Drink now.  - Wine Spectator

Allen Meadows writes:  Ripe and expressive aromas of apple, pear and lemon rind lead to succulent, round and delicious middleweight flavors that terminate in a bitter lemon-inflected finish that could use better depth.  Recommended 5 minutes in a decanter would be a good idea.  - Allen Meadows’ Burghound

Winemaker Description 

Pale yellow color with hints of green. You get on the nose a touch of oak, lots of finesse and minerality with white flowers, lemon and apple scents. On the mouth, the wine is fresh, round and fruity with aromas of melon, kiwi, peaches and apricot and a nice minerality. Overall, the wine is nicely balanced and fresh with a great length. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022 

Tom Capo of the Wine Enthusiast writes 95 Points | Bright and aromatically compelling on the nose, this Chardonnay vibrates with aromas of green apple, lemon balm, orange blossom and river rock. The palate is energetic, giving flavors of apricot and Meyer lemon peel. A massive streak of acidity rips from front to back.

Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points | A bright yellow color, the 2022 Chardonnay Wester Reach is a textbook example of this vintage, with a lot of elegance and a wide drinking window. From the Russian River Valley and aged in 25% new oak barrels for 11 months, it takes on more glycerol richness and a rounded profile. A great wine out of the gate, it captures the sunny feel of the region, but it’s light on its feet and closes with a great finish. This is a crowd-pleaser of a wine, and I would be happy to have this on my table at any stage. Drink 2024-2032.

James Suckling 94 Points | So much Meyer lemon and apple character with some pears on the nose and palate. It’s medium-bodied. It’s like tasting out of a fermenter full of crushed must. Such unadulterated purity. A tight palate with bright acidity and lovely fruit. Drink now.

The Wine Advocate 92 Points |  The 2022 Chardonnay Wester Reach is sourced from several vineyards, including Flax (40%) and Dumol Estate (15%), and grapes were harvested from August 18–September 7. It sits low in the glass at this stage, with understated notes of peach, mushroom powder, flint and cheese rind. The light-bodied palate is soft and rounded with saline-tinged fruit and a gently flinty finish. 3,500 cases were made.

Wine Spectator 92 Points | An expressive version, offering notes of mango, nectarine and dried apricot on a succulent and fleshy frame, with juicy accents of ginger, lemon balm and orange zest lingering on the finish. Drink now. 3,500 cases made.

The Wine Independent 92 Points | Notes of juicy pears, apple sauce, and fresh nectarines pop from the glass of the 2022 Wester Reach Chardonnay, leading to wafts of honeycomb and cashews. The medium to full-bodied palate is filled with orchard fruit flavors supported by a racy backbone, finishing with a compelling tangy lift.

Winemaker Description 

Great aromatic intensity—citrus and nectarine fruits, jasmine and orange blossom, briny/flinty sea spray edges. The flavors center upon lemony green apple then deeper stone fruits with honeysuckle and ginger richness. The wine’s texture is deep, oily, and layered. Fresh mineral, grapefruit acidity cuts through the richness giving a pinpoint focus to the wine’s long echoing finish.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022 

Allan Meadows of Burghound writes 93 Points |  Notes of rosemary oil, pear, herbal tea and a hint of petrol are trimmed in admirably discreet wood. Here too there is excellent energy to the well-detailed and even more appealingly textured medium weight flavors that also terminate in a bone-dry and more obviously austere finale. This possesses excellent development potential and is a wine that will definitely repay at least a few years of keeping.  - Burghound  (♥ = outstanding)

Winemaker Description 

Winemaker Description 

Flavors of pear, apple, and ripe tropical fruit. Well-balanced with vanilla and oak notes. Pair with grilled chicken or fish.

Beringer is known for establishing many 'firsts' as leaders in the wine industry. We were one of the first gravity fed facilities and among the first to operate using hand-dug caves and cellars. We were the first to give public tours in 1934, starting a Napa Valley hospitality tradition. We are the first and only winery to have both a red and a white wine named #1 Wine of the Year by Wine Spectator Magazine.

Expert Review - Vintage 2021 

Vinous 93 Points | The 2021 Chardonnay Cordillera de los Andes comes from the Talinay vineyard in Limarí. 50% was aged in French barrels, 23% of them new. Yellow with a greenish sheen. The nose offers green apple notes with hints of pear, acacia, hazelnuts and a whiff of praline over a bed of oak. In the mouth it has a saline feel with a slightly creamy flow and pert freshness. A long-lasting wine.

Winemaker Description 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023 

Allen Meadows writes Burghound Outstanding Top Value! |  Note: from very young vines planted in the extremely rocky soil above Troëmes in Beauroy. Ripe, fresh and bright aromas are beautifully layered with notes of wet stone, shellfish and quinine. There is a lovely sense of underlying tension to the delicious and detailed middle weight flavors that display unusually good length on the bone-dry and balanced finale. This is excellent for what it is and worth considering. 

Vinous | The 2023 Petit Chablis has a bright malic bouquet, simple but with fine vigor. The palate is sharp on the entry with a slightly candied finish. This is an easy-going Chablis to drink over the next year or two. Tasted blind at the BIVB tasting in Chablis.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

Allen Meadows writes:  An exuberantly spicy nose reflects notes of petrol, various citrus and white orchard fruit, in particular pear. The gorgeously textured and highly seductive medium-bodied flavors also possess fine mid-palate density before terminating in a balanced, firm and youthfully austere finale. This beauty offers the most sophisticated mouthfeel of any of the St. Aubin 1ers and should age well, indeed En Montceau is justly known for it.  Allen Meadows’ Burghound 92 Outstanding Top Value 🖤

Neal Martin writes:  The 2020 Saint-Aubin en Montceau 1er Cru is quintessentially Saint-Aubin on the nose, offering green apples, oyster shells and just a touch of petrichor, all showing wonderful delineation. The intense palate is very well balanced with fine-grained tannins and a judicious touch of spice and orange peel toward the sustained finish. Maybe it needs a little more on the aftertaste; otherwise, this is impressive... and delicious.  Drinking 2024 - 2048.  - Vinous 92-94

William Kelley writes:  The 2020 Saint-Aubin 1er Cru En Montceau is lovely, wafting from the glass with aromas of citrus zest, white flowers and pear, framed by a discreet touch of youthful reduction. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and chiseled, it's textural and concentrated, with good tension at the core and a long, precise finish.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 92-94

Winemaker Description 

The Colin 2020 whites were bottled in January 2022 under the Diam brand composite cork after having been fined but not filtered. As was the case with the 2019 vintage, I was again very impressed with the quality I found and the domaine just seems to continue to go from strength to strength. 

Winemaker Description 

This elegant wine presents butterscotch, baked apple and orange blossom aromas before bright flavors of D’Anjou pear, fresh apple, almond and Meyer lemon zest emerge. The creamy mouthfeel is balanced with refreshing minerality on the finish. 

Winemaker Description 

In southern Burgundy, at the northern border of Beaujolais, lies the Pouilly-Fuissé appellation. At the top of the hierarchy of Mâconnais wines, this area is in the heart of the great appellations that produce white wines: Fuissé, Pouilly-Loché, Pouilly Vinzelles and Saint-Véran. The judicious, subtle use of oak allows Louis Jadot’s Pouilly-Fuissé to retain its complexity and structure.

This wine has aromas of fresh red apples, honey and white flowers with elegant and rich flavors of toasted nuts and citrus. One of the purest expressions of this typical Burgundian grape.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022 

92 Points James Suckling | Aromas of apples, pie crust and mango. Some elements of cream. Hints of pineapple. Full body. Fresh and lightly velvety. 100% Uco Valley fruit.

90 Points Wine Enthusiast | Paul Hobbs, founding partner at this winery, selected vineyards from Luján de Cuyo and Uco Valley to make this lively and satisfying Chardonnay. Notes of grapefruit, Key lime and dill find balance in the fresh palate.

89 Points Vinous | The 2022 Chardonnay Felino from the Uco Valley is yellow with subtle golden flecks. The nose offers inviting stewed green apple and hazelnut aromas complemented by delicate oaky notes. Creamy and moderately warm with plenty of alcohol, it has a broad, plush texture leading into a lingering fruity finish.

Winemaker Description 

Pale yellow in color. On the nose it presents aromas of pear, green apple and grapefruit. It's very well balanced with good palate and crisp acidity. Winemaker Description.

Winemaker Description 

Indicative of its cool-climate origins, with bright acidity beneath notes of pear, apple, pineapple, apricot, nutmeg and vanilla—all framed by a richly textured palate.

Folie à Deux Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2022 is a captivating wine that captures the essence of the renowned Russian River Valley. With its distinct character and balanced profile, this Chardonnay offers a delightful exploration of flavors.

Pouring a pale gold hue, the wine releases an inviting bouquet of aromas. Fresh green apples and ripe pear notes take center stage, complemented by delicate hints of citrus and a touch of vanilla. As you take your first sip, the palate is greeted with a harmonious blend of flavors. Crisp apple and juicy pear continue to shine, while subtle accents of toasted oak and a hint of baking spices add depth and complexity.

Crafted by Folie à Deux, a winery known for its craftsmanship and attention to detail, the Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2022 is a true reflection of its terroir. The wine's name, which translates to "a passion shared by two," embodies the spirit of sharing and enjoyment that wine brings. With a well-rounded structure and a refreshing acidity, this Chardonnay offers a versatile and pleasurable drinking experience.

Winemaker Notes

Bright pear, lemon, apple and tropical fruit notes, all with a background of subtle spice and French oak. With medium body, this wine is fresh and flavorful. 

Winemaker Description 

Pale yellow color with hints of gold and green. Powerful notes of minerality and yellow fruits. Rounded and rich with a good structure and lengthy finish.

 Enjoy as an aperitif or with seafood, veal, goat cheese, or gruyère.

Expert Reviews 

"I’m not sure any country drinks more sparkling wine than Italy. Ferrari’s wines, from the Trentino-Alto Adige region of Italy, are generally superb. This entry-level bottle, made entirely from chardonnay, is sleek and graceful, impeccably balanced and a great value." - Eric Asimov’s New York Times Article Dec. 21, 2023

Monica Larner writes:  An Italian classic and a terrific value, the Ferrari NV Trento Brut is all Chardonnay that opens to crystalline luminosity and brilliance. The bouquet is straightforward and confident, delivering a clear and precise message of good cheer and easy-drinking appeal. There are notes of citrus, white peach, breakfast pastry and drying notes of crushed mineral. This is the quintessential Italian aperitivo wine.  -  Robert Parker Wine Advocate 91

Winemaker Description 

An elevated everyday choice, the 2023 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay arrives right on time by awakening the nose with notes of crisp green apple, and the warm sweetness of honey. First sips bring the strong citrus and unmistakable acid of preserved lemon peel, followed by the comfort of toasted graham cracker crust and a subtle whisper of light oak.

Enjoy on a summer evening alongside a chicken piccata or roasted seasonal squash

Winemaker Description 

With a beautiful pale gold color and green reflections, this Chablis has a powerful, fresh and floral nose with notes of fresh almond and hazelnut, citrus, and white flowers.

The mouth is balanced, minerally, and restrained. The evolution and finish are more subdued, taking on an acid character, with a delicacy highlighted by its great freshness.

Kosher for Passover. 

Winemaker Description 

Aromas of ripe green and golden apple, accented by fresh white peach and light oak notes. Across the palate, this golden wine is silken in texture with flavors of apple, citrus and pear balanced by refreshing acidity. The long finish is clean, with underlying hints of minerality, vanilla and lemon.

Winemaker Description 

District 7 Chardonnay is a focused, elegant wine that strikes the perfect balance between rich and refreshing. Aromas of vanilla, orange blossom, and yellow delicious apple complement the judicious use of oak. Lush and ripe flavors of pineapple, Asian pear, vanilla and citrus finish with a hint of creamy, honeyed oak. 

Winemaker Description 

VINEYARD The Hendry Vineyard is located on bench lands just west of the town of Napa. The vines grow on thin stony soils between 200 and 300 feet above sea level. Morning fog and afternoon breezes from the San Pablo Bay moderate our climate. We are just a mile or so from the Carneros region of Napa, and enjoy similar marine-layer influence.

This wine is a selection from our three Chardonnay blocks: Block 9 (Old Wente/KD Clone, planted 1974) which has just reached 50 years of age, Block 19 (Dijon 96, planted 1996), and Block 20 (Dijon 95, planted 1996).

VINTAGE In 2023, budbreak in the Chardonnay blocks was March 23rd. Bloom took place between May 30th and June 1st, and veraison on August 7th, setting the pace for a later harvest than usual. Harvest took place from September 11th through the 15th. Average bloom to harvest was 105 days. Yield was 2.46 tons per acre in the old Block 9, and 3.41 tons per acre in 19 and 20.

WINEMAKING At harvest, half of the fruit from these blocks is whole-cluster crushed and fermented entirely in stainless steel at a cold temperature, about 50 degrees. It is protected from oxygen exposure to prevent oxidation. These two measures help to preserve the fresh fruit flavors of Chardonnay grown in our cooler climate. It is not allowed to go through malolactic fermentation and remains in stainless steel for cold-settling until bottling. Screw-cap closure.

This unassuming, unadorned wine highlights the beauty and purity of our Chardonnay fruit. Blocks 9, 19 and 20 are all small-yielding, producing concentrated, flavorful fruit. The variety of clones contributes to the complexity of these wines. 

NOTES Pale straw color. Aromas of green and pink apples, stone fruits. Light-bodied, with pleasing flavors of tangy apple and citrus. Balanced palate. Fresh and vibrant, with green apple and lemony acidity in the surprisingly long finish. Keep it light when pairing with this wine. Try grilled chicken breasts, lemony hummus or guacamole with chips, mozzarella with prosciutto and summer fruit, and other light, bright foods--or just sip all by itself!

Wine Specs
Alcohol: 14.3
Cases Produced: 1,066

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019

Year’s Best US Chardonnay - Wine & Spirits Magazine

James Suckling 94 Points | Grilled pineapple, apricot, hawthorn, burnt lime and flint on the nose. It’s medium-bodied with bright acidity and a sleek, creamy texture. Balanced, fresh and long. Beautiful expression. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink now or hold. 

Winemaker Description 

The 2019 'Dundee Hills Chardonnay' is a regional blend showcasing the best of the Dundee Hills AVA. Refined aromas of nectarines, honeysuckle, and bee pollen ascend from the glass, coalescing with notes of citrus peel. Layers upon layers of richness extend across the palate and crescendo to a seamless, persistent finish with lingering notes of lemon drop candy. 

This wine has the energy and drive to drink young or over the next decade. This wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered showing our commitment to minimal intervention winemaking. Winemaker Description. 

Producer Description 

The storied Domaine de Montille traces its history in Burgundy back to the 1730s. Hubert de Montille took the helm in 1947 with a drive and passion that eventually earned the family a place in the upper echelon of Burgundy estates.

Following in his father’s footsteps, Etienne de Montille grew the family holdings to 35 hectares and in 1995, took the bold step of transitioning the vineyards to organic and biodynamic farming.

One of the rare Burgundy estates that excels in reds and whites in both the Côte de Beaune and the Côte de Nuits, along with many more sectors of the region with its sister petit negociant project, Maison de Montille (formerly known as DEux Montilles). 

The winemaking at de Montille has evolved over the years, and the resulting wines are less austere in their youth than in the Hubert era. Today’s wines are fresh and elegant with terroir-transparency and a structure that is built to last.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

Neil Martin of The Wine Advocate writes 91-93+ Points |  The 2020 Chassagne Montrachet les Champs Gains has a touch more mineralite on the nose compared to the Les Chenevottes, touches of gypsum and oyster shell intermingling with light white linen scents. The palate is very well balanced and beautifully poised with entrancing white peach and nectarine notes toward the irresistible finish. Yes, Yes, Yes!

Jasper Morris 92-94 Points | Mid lemon. A little more stuffing than the very agreeable Chenevottes, digging deep into fresh yellow fruit, some citrus rind, good acidity, and a particularly appealing intense crisp white fruit finish. Old vines count! 

Winemaker Description 

Founded in 1970 by Marc Colin and his wife Michele, Domaine Marc Colin now spans 15 hectares encompassing 26 appellations in St. Aubin, Chassagne, Puligny, and Santenay. Most of the land was inherited from past generations of Colin and Ponavoy; certain parcels have been in the family for more than 100 years. While the family does own prime territory in Chassagne, home base in St. Aubin features parcels of the very best vineyards, En Remilly and Chatenière, to name a few. These vineyards accrue prestige due to their sloped location; while much of St. Aubin resides on flat ground (rendering less interesting wines) the Colin properties are all situated on finely pitched hillsides. The resulting wines shimmer with savory minerality and luster.

Today Joseph, Caroline, and Damien, the children of Marc and Michele, own and run the domaine. The fourth sibling Pierre-Yves (who made the wine at Marc Colin for 10 years) established his own project in 2005. Sustainable and organic agriculture, older vines, and clay-limestone soils are just some of the components contributing to the quality of the final product. Winemaking style would best be called traditional, though Joseph (who makes the whites) and Damien (who makes the reds) are certainly not shy of innovation. Whites strive for optimum freshness; there is no heavy, ungainly wood here. The red wines are characterized by silky texture, ever-present fruit and a certain roundness with just a kiss of oak. Production consists of 70% white and 30% red with total production maxing out at 120,000 bottles.

Winemaker Description 

Un-oaked.  Upfront fleshy tropical aromas of Champagne mango, nectarine, lush pear syrup and citrus.  A lively vibrancy of bright citrus, apple notes balance out the weight of the tropical fruit flavors to give an effortless impression on the palate.

A clean, un-encumbered chardonnay that makes it easy to just enjoy in the glass, pair up with a citrusy summer salad or poached fish.

Winemaker Description 

A blend of several years' production from plots of Chardonnay near the winery.

Gentle vinification, without fining or filtration, aged for over 10 months in oak barrels, with a very structured taste and a straw-yellow colour.

A single parcel of 44 ares, all Chardonnay, a single vintage, 50 cm chalk subsoil, this parcel is close to the Saint-Gond marshes. It was planted 40 years ago.

Vinified without fining or filtration, the wine is gently fermented in oak barrels in the wood.

Its proximity to the marshes and its soil type give it a very different profile, much fuller and warmer.

Blend: 100% Chardonnay.

Winemaker Description 

92 Points Wine Spectator | Pure and silky in texture, revealing lemon, apple, mineral and oak spice flavors. Seamless and balanced, with lively acidity guiding the lingering aftertaste of citrus, orchard fruit and spices. Drink now through 2030. 2,715 cases made, 543 cases imported.

Winemaker Description 

All of our eleven vineyard designate Chardonnays are marked first and foremost by regional characteristics. Beyond that lies the personality of each of the vineyards from which they hail.

All of the sites are planted to the same clone, a California heritage selection that we have been using for close to thirty years. Each wine is produced in the same fashion, with the focus being on the traditional techniques that elicit the earth driven, complex noble sulfides and resulting minerality inherent in the fruit from each site.

Each of our Chardonnay vineyards exhibits characters unique to the site, and hence unique to the wines bottled as vineyard designates. The bottling of wines of site is not a process we take lightly, as it is the main focus of our efforts. We often take years to assess the quality and individual personality of a site prior to deciding to bottle it on its own. We have been working with many of these sites for well over twenty five years.

Founded in 1978, Kistler Vineyards is a small, family-owned and operated winery specializing in the production of Burgundian style Chardonnay and limited amounts of Pinot Noir. Grapes are estate grown and purchased from vineyards in Sonoma County. In 1992, Kistler Vineyards moved all production to its Vine Hill Road Vineyard in the Russian River Valley.

One heritage Californian selection of Chardonnay planted across fifteen vineyards, from Carneros to Sonoma Valley, to the Russian River Valley and Sonoma Coast. From those sites we produce eleven vineyard designate Chardonnays. We are wholly dedicated to the ideal of wines of site. It’s an unparalleled approach in the new world.

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

James Suckling 93 Points | Fresh and creamy notes of pie crust, lemon curd and toast. Bright, juicy and elegant on the palate with a fluid, lengthy finish. A very good value here.

Vinous 91 Points | The 2023 Chardonnay Catena was primarily sourced from the Uco Valley. Aged for up to 12 months in French oak barrels, this yellow-hued wine reveals aromas of hazelnut, pear and herbs, with a subtle floral note. Indulgent and broad yet refreshing, the oak imparted a plush texture without adding structure to the palate-a savory,

Winemaker Description 

The Catena Chardonnay combines the unique expressions of three high altitude vineyard sites. The wine shows an intense greenish color with yellow notes. The extraordinary combination of these vineyards offer honey and tropical fruit flavors while lending notes of citrus, pears, peaches, and white flowers with a strong minerality and a delicated note of vanilla. The mouthfeel is clean, with a fresh, clean acidity.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022 

92 Points Wine Enthusiast: Though the production level of this wine is rather massive, the quality does not suffer. Aromas of lemon chiffon cake and wet stone are engaging on the nose. The palate starts with a tantalizing acidity and stony texture, giving edge to the richer cream and vanilla-meringue flavors that arise by the finish.

Winemaker Description 

Tropical fruit aromas of guava and pineapple with hints of toasted marshmallow and lavender. Flavors of pear, white peach and key lime. A weighty entry that is balanced by lively acidity brings complexity and elegance to this lovely wine. Enjoyable upon release and over the next six to seven years.

Our Professional Review

Bart Hopkins of 67Wine.com | Here is a perfect example of just how good Chardonnay can be! Refreshing flavors of white peach, lively citrus, stone fruit and pear drop cascade across the palate with fleshy richness and energetic balance. There is plenty of zip and clean acidity on the long, delicious and very happy finish. Great with a wide variety of foods, but also just by itself.

Expert Review

Sam Kim of Wine Orbit 95 Points |  Gorgeously composed and expressed, the wine shows golden peach, lemon peel, nougat and hazelnut aromas with a hint of brioche complexity. The concentrated palate delivers terrific weight and persistency, wonderfully complemented by creamy texture and beautifully pitched acidity.

Winemaker Description

Mevushal. From the raw, untamed beauty of the Western Cape, J. Folk wine fuses a modern South African soul with traditional winemaking methods expressed in the features of this wine. The result is a spirited selection resonating the people & places of its colorful origin. 

Hints of fresh yellow stone fruit and peach, complimented by a lingering citrus fruit.

Expert Review - Vintage 2020 

Allan Meadows of Burghound writes 90-93 Points | The hallmark citrus influences of a fine Séchet are on display along with notes of white flower, iodine and ocean breeze. Here too there is fine density to the palate coating flavors that are at once caressing but punchy, all wrapped in a clean, very dry and lemony finish that is presently somewhat youthfully austere.  - Burghound 91-93 ♥️ Outstanding

Winemaker Description 

Liberal ripe Meyer lemon, citrus blossoms and spice aromas are accented by notes of seaside minerality. Flavors are layered with citrus, orchard fruit and clean oyster-shell minerality. A generous wine with great energy and vibrancy and will reward with additional cellaring. Aging: The premiers crus wines are fermented in a combination of stainless steel and oak puncheons for seven months.

Expert Notes

Bruce Sanderson writes:  This white shows intensity, offering plenty of succulent peach and floral aromas and flavors. Clean, lemony acidity keeps the palate refreshed, with a chalky feel in the end. Drink now through 2028.  - Wine Spectator 90