
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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Marcassin Three Sisters Vineyard Chardonnay 2009Chardonnay from Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California
- RP
- WS
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Domaine Faiveley Puligny Montrachet 2009Chardonnay from Burgundy, France
- BH
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Buena Vista Carneros Chardonnay 2009Chardonnay from Carneros, California
- WE
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Dry Creek Vineyard Foggy Oaks Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2009Chardonnay from Russian River, Sonoma County, California
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Pahlmeyer Napa Valley Chardonnay 2009Chardonnay from Napa Valley, California
- RP
- WS
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Bodini Chardonnay 2009Chardonnay from Argentina
- RP
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La Crema Monterey Chardonnay 2009Chardonnay from Central Coast, California
- WE
- RP
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Mount Eden Vineyards Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay 2009Chardonnay from Central Coast, California
- WS
- RP
- W&S
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Louis Latour Meursault Les Genevrieres 2009Chardonnay from Meursault, Cote de Beaune, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- BH
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Louis Latour Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2009Chardonnay from Cote de Beaune, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- JS
- WE
- WW
- BH
- WS
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Concha y Toro Marques de Casa Concha Chardonnay 2009Chardonnay from Chile
- WS
- RP
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Justin Chardonnay 2009Chardonnay from Central Coast, California
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Christian Moreau Chablis Vaillon Premier Cru 2009Chardonnay from Chablis, Burgundy, France
- RP
- WE
- WS
- BH
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DeLoach Heritage Reserve Chardonnay 2009Chardonnay from California
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Laguna Winery Russian River Chardonnay 2009Chardonnay from Russian River, Sonoma County, California
- RP
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Brocard Les Clos Grand Cru Chablis 2009Chardonnay from Chablis, Burgundy, France
- BH
- RP
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Kistler Vineyards Hudson Chardonnay 2009Chardonnay from Carneros, California
- WS
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MontGras Reserva Chardonnay 2009Chardonnay from Chile
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Aubert UV-SL Vineyard Chardonnay 2009Chardonnay from Sonoma County, California
- WS
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Joseph Phelps Freestone Vineyards Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2009Chardonnay from Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California
- CG
- TP
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Cameron Hughes Chardonnay 2009Chardonnay from California
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Joseph Drouhin Beaune Clos des Mouches Premier Cru Blanc 2009Chardonnay from Burgundy, France
- RP
- BH
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Wine Spots Monterey Chardonnay 2009Chardonnay from Central Coast, California
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Chehalem INOX Chardonnay 2009Chardonnay from Willamette Valley, Oregon
- WS
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Starmont Chardonnay 2009Chardonnay from Napa Valley, California