2017 Shannon Ridge Vineyard Chardonnay High Elevation Collection, USA, California, Lake County, Wine Review

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 obvious faults. Nothing offensive. In short, a nice value California Chardonnay. Light golden in color. The nose has a slight oak note to it along with some lemon and slight apple. On the palate, while not quite as enticing as the nose, there is slight apple and slight saw dust. Nice acidity. Good finish. This would be a great choice for a party or for wine lovers who don't have a budget for $30 bottles on a Monday night.

Grade:

Score:

Vintage:

2017

Current Price:

$14.00USD

Top Ten California Chardonnays - 2016

I tend to taste and drink a lot of wine over the course of a year. I am in a few tasting groups, sometimes the wines are consumed at various local wine store tastings and a number drunk with friends and family.

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Best Napa Chardonnay (For the Money)

IntoWine.com asked a panel of wine experts for their recommendation for the best Napa Chardonnay (for the money): California Chardonnay has entered a new golden era, and there are terrific, cooler climate examples available from all over the State. These great new Chards tend to be balanced, with minerality and strong acidity, as well as less obtrusive new oak than was the trademark of California Chardonnay even five years ago. Napa does not have a particularly cool climate, so the wines from this region tend to have more ripe, tropical fruit characteristics, and more richness, as well as more of a creamy mouth feel, thanks in large part to the new oak typically used for fermentation and aging. Nonetheless, for those who like the rich, tropical fruit style of Chardonnay, there are some great examples from Napa that are relative values. My top pick for the money is the Arnot-Roberts Watson Ranch Napa Valley Chardonnay, with the current release going for a relatively reasonable average of $35. Here I get more lemon and lemon cream than super-ripe tropical fruit, but with solid weight and creamy texture. Also quite good but considerably pricier, at about $50, is the Hestan Vineyards Chardonnay, made by sought after Napa winemaking consultant Mark Herold. - Richard Jennings, IntoWine.com Featured Contributor and the Founder RJonWine.com

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Napa Valley Chardonnay: Foods to Pair With, and Meals that Call for, Napa Chardonnay

Chardonnay—a chameleon of a grape. There are an especially large number of choices to be made in terms of winemaking when it comes to Chardonnay. It can be still or sparkling. It can be aged in oak or un-oaked, filtered or unfiltered, subject to malolactic fermentation or not. Even the type of oak used, or the decision to keep the wine in contact with dead yeast cells during the winemaking process affects the style of the final product. These factors (not to mention the concept of terroir) result in endless Chardonnay styles that can range from Burgundy’s crisp, austere, mineral-driven wines to Australia’s tropical fruit-packed, viscous style.

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2017 The Hess Collection Chardonnay, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage:

2017

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$22.00USD

This is a pretty version of California Chardonnay. Gold/silver/green in color. The nose has lemon/lime with a nice minerality. On the palate, this has lemons, wintergreen, along with slight tannins. There is some oak here but not burdensome. It shows up more on the finish along with some lemons. This has a bit of complexity and is drinking very well. It drinks well on its own and will work with lighter and medium weight foods. It should probably be consumed in the next few years. Full retail is $22 but this can often be found for less.

2012 Marcassin Chardonnay Marcassin Vineyard, USA, California, Sonoma Coast, Wine Review

Vintage:

2012

Score:

Grade:

A+

Current Price:

$375.00USD

This wine took a long time to open up and was still improving four hours later when retasted at the end of the night. The first impression score was maybe a 90 and eventually it got up to 99. Really impressive but if opening, give it air or time. Medium deep golden in color. The nose has oak, vanilla and lemon. With air a metallic not comes and goes. Then a buttery quality which stays although moves more into the background. Eventually, some orange citrus and floral notes with a great underlying minerality. The palate also goes thru a wild ride starting off tight and oak driven, the

2017 Shannon Ridge Vineyard Chardonnay High Elevation Collection, USA, California, Lake County, Wine Review

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