A to Z Wineworks
I know what you’re saying, Chardonnay? Really? In a world that brought us Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay seems a bit dated. The staple and timeless wine that you won’t admit you love, it screams 1980s trendy and chic. I can remember bottles of Kendell Jackson Chardonnay every time my grandmother would have a family gathering or special get-together with friends. It seems, however, that it has been the butt of jokes and a pop culture spectacle for two and a half decades.
One of my favorite movies, Bottle Shock, directed by Randall Miller follows a Paris-based wine expert as he heads to California in search of cheap wine that he can use for a blind taste test. Venturing into Napa Valley, the Englishman is shocked to discover a winery turning out top-notch chardonnay. Determined to make a name for himself, he sets about getting the booze back to Paris, challenging and thereby turning the European-centric wine industry on its head while putting California wine on the main stage.
Jules Taylor
One can understand why Chardonnay seems stagnant in a world of giants. It has developed a reputation for having strong and unsubtle flavors of oak and butter (who doesn’t love that); a reputation for pairing poorly with food (another win in my book); and has a reputation for being the sort of thing your mom drinks. Yet, most people don’t know that about 25 years after Chardonnay became “unfashionable,” Americans still drink more of it than any other kind of wine.
Chardonnay as a varietal is a very blank slate, the tasting profile left mostly up to the winemaker. As the demand for different flavor profiles increases, there are many vineyards pushing the definition of Chardonnay and redefining expectation.
We’ve found 5 amazing Chardonnays that challenge the preconceived notions of undistinguished and dated, wines that are truly memorable and hold their own in the diverse wine industry of today.
A to Z Chardonnay
A to Z Wineworks
Oregon
$17
Developed aromas of lemon, lime zest, kumquat, quince, spiced apple, pear, peach, melon, apricot and lemongrass with hints of sage and fresh cut summer grass.
Citrus fruits and green apple compliment. Rich, yet balanced.
There is a grapefruit pith note to the finish, along with a linear minerality that lingers for quite some time after tasting.
Jules Taylor Chardonnay
Jules Taylor Wines
Marlborough
$17
Pineapple and melon predominate this amazingly versatile wine. We’ve actually paired with red meat and a hearty stew and still was able to pull a bright lemon feel. Toasty and spicy, Jules Taylor challenges our presuppositions of what a varietal should be.
Elegant yet with mind blowing. Baked apple, stone fruit, subtle oak influence.
Plump ripe lingering fruit.
Maggio Family Chardonnay
Oak Ridge Winery Maggio Family Vineyards
California
$10
Citrus dominate; grapefruit and clementine. Mistakenly dry white peach blend. A vanilla and tropical fruit aroma and butterscotch flavor with a full-bodied finish.
Pair with salad greens with toasted pine nuts, dates with honey, lightly spiced and peppered roasted chicken, and seafood such as cod, tilapia, and shellfish.
Wagner Chardonnay
Wagner Vineyards
New York
$13
This un-oaked Chardonnay is all about the fruit. Bright, light, and crisp yet memorable on the palate. Bone dry, yet fruity. The wine features ripe pear aromas with melon and crisp mineral flavors.
A smooth, well-balanced finish makes this wine a perfect match for shrimp, seafood, or poultry.
Wagner is one of the Finger Lakes Region few estate wineries, meaning they grow all of the grapes used to produce their wine.
Riva Ranch Chardonnay
Wente Vineyards
California
$18
Spicy and rich texture; ripe white fruit. Great start with green apple, pear, custard, and floral notes. A great dense and smooth mouthfeel leads to a surprisingly good balance.
Small touches of oak and butter take over mid-palate and lead the way into the long finish featuring more of the same tastiness.
Pair with cheese, chicken and pork.
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