The Full Spectrum of Chardonnay
As one of the world’s most popular grapes, Chardonnay understandably represents a wide range of styles. Discover our staff’s favorites from around the globe below.
Presqu’ile Winery, Chardonnay, Santa Barbara County $22.96
When Dieter Cronje began as winemaker for Presqu’ile, he looked to the Côte-d’Or for inspiration. The cool fogs of Santa Maria Valley keep the wine bright and fresh and heighten the notes of lemon curd and wet stone. There’s just a hint of oak from spending 11 months in barrel (25% neutral French barriques /75% Austrian casks). It may have California roots, but the nod toward France is unmistakable. – Amy Miller, Sales Manager
Eminence Road “Lambs Quarter” Chardonnay $22.96
This great wine is made in a barn in the Catskills with grapes sourced in Finger Lakes vineyards. It is fermented with naturally occurring yeast and is unfiltered and unfined. Aromatic, with pear notes on the nose and a palate of almonds and honey. This is a wine that I would pair with poultry dishes or light cheeses. Delicious! – Andrea Fraccari, Astor Wines & Spirits Sales Consultant
De Wetshof Estate “Lesca” Chardonnay $24.96
Maybe Chardonnay isn’t the first grape that crosses your mind when it comes to South Africa, but wow! This is a real show stopper; exhibiting all of the elements I love about a solid Chardonnay with a great price tag to boot. What more could you want? – Bambi Ray, Sales Manager
Au Bon Climat Los Alamos Chardonnay $28.96
Let’s pay homage to the late, great Jim Clendenen, the most pivotal figure in establishing the Santa Barbara wine region. Here’s a single vineyard Chardonnay with a judicious touch of oak. The wine shows body and briskness with flavors of apples and citrus fruit along with a hint of vanilla and butter. – Chung Park, Astor Wines & Spirits Sales Consultant
Shaw and Smith, “M3” Vineyard Chardonnay $34.99
The M3 has quickly become my go-to Chardonnay and I must have at least one in the fridge at all times or else I start to get antsy. Equally delicious by itself on a sunny Sunday afternoon in the garden, or with falafel over rice after a long closing shift. A rich nose of honey, roast nuts, and pineapple deliver us to medium-bodied deliciousness with crisp acid and fleshy fruit. Another stunner from the Adelaide hills, Shaw + Smith were “aiming for elegance, restraint and the ability to age” and hit all that and more with this one. – Simon Gouldstone, Astor Wines & Spirits Sales Consultant
Chablis Vieilles Vignes, Daniel-Etienne Defaix $36.96
Daniel Etienne-Defaix employs long aging before bottle release, extended lees contact, and indigenous yeast malolactic fermentation to extract as much honesty from the terroir as possible. His village-level Chablis has notes of blanched almonds, creamy butter, and gala apples with a salinity that underlies this youthful powerful wine. – Jose Banegas, Astor Wines & Spirits Consultant
Dom. du Pélican, Arbois Chardonnay $48.96
In the decade since Guillaume d’Angerville founded Domaine du Pélican he’s quickly amassed a devoted following. His Chardonnay comes from several parcels grown at elevation, giving the wine an electric vitality. You’ll find bright citrus, white peach, almonds, and a minerally finish. – Amy Miller, Sales Manager
Fixin Blanc 1er Cru “Clos de la Perrière”, Dom. Joliet $89.96
Bénigne Joliet farms the Clos de la Perrière and only the Close de la Perrière vineyard. From this 5 ha site he makes only two wines: one white and one red, and the white comes entirely from an even more minuscule half hectare plot of very old-vine chardonnay. That wine is one of my favorite little corners of Burgundy: a richer style of white Fixin that is nonetheless only lightly oaked, showing pure citrus and apple fruit, white flowers, and fine minerality, with touches of hazelnut, ginger, and fresh hay on the finish. – Jon Miner, Astor Wines & Spirits Consultant