
Chardonnay
Learn about Chardonnay — taste profile, popular regions and more ...
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While practically every country in the wine producing world grows it, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. As far as cellar potential, white Burgundy rivals the world’s other age-worthy whites like Riesling or botrytized Semillon. California is Chardonnay’s second most important home, where both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines enjoy great popularity. Oregon, Australia and South America are also significant producers of Chardonnay.
Tasting Notes for Chardonnay
Chardonnay is a dry, white wine. When Chardonnay grapes are planted on cool sites, the resulting wine's flavors tend towards grapefruit, lemon zest, green apple, celery leaf and wet flint, while warmer locations coax out richer, more tropical flavors of melon, peach and pineapple. Oak can add notes of vanilla, coconut and spice, while malolactic fermentation imparts a soft and creamy texture.
Perfect Food Pairings for Chardonnay
Chardonnay is as versatile at the table as it is in the vineyard. The crisp, clean, Chablis-like styles go well with flaky white fish with herbs, scallops, turkey breast and soft cheeses. Richer Chardonnays marry well with lobster, crab, salmon, roasted chicken and creamy sauces.
Sommelier Secrets for Chardonnay
Since the 1980s, big, oaky, buttery Chardonnays from California have enjoyed explosive popularity. More recently, the pendulum has swung in the opposite direction, towards a clean, crisp style that rarely utilizes new oak. The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a similar bright and acid-driven style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy this lighter style.
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Louis Latour Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2016Chardonnay from Aloxe-Corton, Cote de Beaune, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- JS
- WS
- D
- BH
- RP
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Chalk Hill Estate Chardonnay 2016Chardonnay from Sonoma County, California
- RP
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Domaine Louis Moreau Chablis Les Clos Grand Cru 2016Chardonnay from Chablis, Burgundy, France
- W&S
- RP
- WS
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Walter Hansel Cuvee Alyce Chardonnay 2016Chardonnay from Russian River, Sonoma County, California
- RP
- V
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Kistler Vineyards Cuvee Cathleen Chardonnay 2016Chardonnay from Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County, California
- RP
- CG
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Ridge Estate Chardonnay 2016Chardonnay from Santa Cruz Mountains, California
- JD
- WS
- RP
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Amici Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2016Chardonnay from Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California
- JS
- JD
- RP
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Robert Mondavi Reserve Chardonnay 2016Chardonnay from Carneros, California
- JD
- RP
- WS
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Domaine Robert-Denogent Pouilly-Fuisse La Croix Vieilles Vignes 2016Chardonnay from Pouilly-Fuisse, Maconnais, Burgundy, France
- RP
- BH
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Walter Hansel The North Slope Vineyard Chardonnay 2016Chardonnay from Russian River, Sonoma County, California
- RP
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Walter Hansel The Meadows Vineyard Chardonnay 2016Chardonnay from Russian River, Sonoma County, California
- V
- RP
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Calera Mt. Harlan Chardonnay 2016Chardonnay from Mt. Harlan, Central Coast, California
- WW
- WE
- RP
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Lapostolle Cuvee Alexandre Chardonnay 2016Chardonnay from Casablanca Valley, Chile
- JS
- TA
- RP
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Domaine Drouhin Oregon Chardonnay Arthur 2016Chardonnay from Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon
- JS
- RP
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Davis Bynum River West Vineyard Chardonnay 2016Chardonnay from Russian River, Sonoma County, California
- WE
- RP
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Domaine Antoine Jobard St-Aubin Sur le Sentier du Clou Premier Cru 2016Chardonnay from St-Aubin, Cote de Beaune, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- BH
- RP
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Bouchard Pere & Fils Beaune du Chateau Premier Cru Blanc 2016Chardonnay from Beaune, Cote de Beaune, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- RP
- BH
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Henschke Croft Chardonnay 2016Chardonnay from Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia
- JS
- RP
- WE
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Domaine Antoine Jobard Meursault Blagny Premier Cru 2016Chardonnay from Meursault, Cote de Beaune, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- TA
- RP
- BH
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Gaja Rossj-Bass Chardonnay 2016Chardonnay from Piedmont, Italy
- RP
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Chanin Bien Nacido Vineyard Chardonnay 2016Chardonnay from Santa Maria Valley, Central Coast, California
- JD
- RP
- V
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Arnot-Roberts Watson Ranch Chardonnay 2016Chardonnay from Napa Valley, California
- V
- RP
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Domaine Robert-Denogent St-Veran Les Pommards 2016Chardonnay from St-Veran, Maconnais, Burgundy, France
- RP
- BH
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Adobe Road Chardonnay Kiser Ranch 2016Chardonnay from Carneros, California
- RP
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Gran Moraine Yamhill-Carlton Chardonnay 2016Chardonnay from Yamhill-Carlton District, Willamette Valley, Oregon
- JS
- RP