C H A R D O N N A Y
99 MCFADDEN
2011 Chardonnay
Potter Valley - Mendocino $16
Now this is what chardonnay is supposed to taste like! All fruit, no oak, in a superbly-crafted, well-balanced wine exhibiting crisp tropical fruit, apple, peach and pear flavors with light floral elements, ending in a finish that goes on and on and on. Doesn’t get much better than this!
98 BLUE QUAIL
2011 Chardonnay
Potter Valley - Mendocino $13
Again, this is what chardonnay is supposed to taste like! All fruit, no oak, in a superbly-crafted, well-balanced wine exhibiting crisp tropical fruit, apple, peach and pear flavors with light floral elements, ending in a finish that goes on and on and on. Doesn’t get much better than this!
97 BLUE QUAIL
2012 Chardonnay
Potter Valley - Mendocino $13
Fruit-forward nose of apple, peach, pear and tropical fruit notes, The flavors come through on the palate adding light floral elements, ending in a finish that goes on and on and on.
97 CHATOM VINEYARDS
2011 Chardonnay
Calaveras County $18
97 FLEUR
2011 Chardonnay
North Coast $15
97 FOYT
2010 Chardonnay
No. 67 - Sonoma County $26
Wonderful fruit-forward nose of tropical fruit, citrus, pear, apple and light minerals, with complements of light nuts, vanilla and oak. This wine has character! It’s smooth, crisp, well-balanced and has a wonderful mouth feel all the way though the crisp, long, lingering finish.
97 GALLO SIGNATURE SERIES
2010 Chardonnay
Russian River Valley $30
97 LAGUNA
2010 Chardonnay
Laguna Ranch Vineyard - Russian River Valley $35
97 MCFADDEN
2012 Chardonnay
Potter Valley - Mendocino $16
Fruit-forward nose of apple, peach, pear and tropical fruit notes, The flavors come through on the palate adding light floral elements, ending in a finish that goes on and on and on.
97 MEADOWCROFT
2010 Chardonnay
Sonoma County $26
Wonderful fruit-forward nose of tropical fruit, citrus, pear and light minerals, with complements of vanilla and oak. This wine has character! It’s smooth, crisp, well-balanced and has a wonderful mouth feel. And thank God there’s only a kiss of oak on the finish.
97 VENGE
2009 Chardonnay
Malodonado Vineyard - Napa Valley $39
We wish every winemaker made chardonnay like this. Crisp, refreshing tropical fruit aromas with compliments of citrus and stone fruits are gently kissed by light oak. This is a wine that with every sip you can’t wait for the next. Only problem is the bottle empties too fast! Superb.
96 CHATOM VINEYARDS
2010 Chardonnay
Calaveras County $18
96 CHESSMAN
2010 Chardonnay
Sonoma County $13
96 GRACIANNA
2009 Chardonnay
Suzanne's Blend - Russian River Valley $34
96 PICKET FENCE
2011 Chardonnay
Russian River Valley $16
96 TIERRA BRISA
2012 Chardonnay
Mendoza - Argentina $13
95 BRUTOCAO
2009 Chardonnay
Reserve - Mendocino $25
A bit closed at first, after some time in the glass (and especially overnight) this wine opens-up with pretty tropical fruit, stone fruit, citrus and apple aromas, married to a good amount of creamy oak. The palate is smooth and viscous, with maturing fruit and a clean, oaky finish.
95 FREI BROTHERS
2010 Chardonnay
Reserve - Russian River Valley $20
95 HAHN
2010 Chardonnay
Nicky Hahn - Santa Lucia Highlands $12
95 HOOK & LADDER
2010 Chardonnay
Estate Bottled - Russian River Valley $19
95 MANZANITA CREEK
2010 Chardonnay
Elegance - Russian River Valley $18
As the name implies, this is a soft, refined, elegant wine boasting crisp apple, pear, stone fruit and mango flavors complemented by hints of butterscotch, vanilla and oak. This is a well-balanced, crisp, clean wine that expresses the chardonnay grape wonderfully.
94 DIAM ANDES
2010 Chardonnay
Valle de Uco; Mendoza - Argentina $20
94 EDUCATED GUESS
2010 Chardonnay
Napa Valley $17
94 GHOST PINES
2010 Chardonnay
Sonoma/Monterey/Napa Counties $20
94 HOOK & LADDER
2009 Chardonnay
Estate Bottled - Russian River Valley $19
94 GOYETTE
2011 Chardonnay
Monterey County $20
93 GROVE RIDGE
2010 Chardonnay
California $10
93 MAHONEY
2011 Chardonnay
Gavin Vineyard - Carneros $22
93 MANZANITA CREEK
2010 Chardonnay
Foothill Vineyard - Chalk Hill $22
A pretty nose of peach, pineapple, pear and hints of mango enveloped by vanilla, caramel and oak. A bit lighter on the palate than the “Elegance” chardonnay, this wine also showcases the chardonnay grape beautifully in a well-balanced, crisp, clean structure leading to a nice, lingering finish.
93 PASO GRANDE
2010 Chardonny
Maule Valley - Chile $10
93 ROCK WALL
2009 Chardonnay
Reserve - Russian River Valley $30
92 CABLE CAR
2011 Chardonnay
California $10
92 INSATIABLE
2011 Chardonnay
California $10
92 THOMAS HENRY
2010 Chardonnay
Napa County $18
A mature nose of tropical fruit, stone fruit, citrus and green apple, with butterscotch and oak complements. The palate delivers the same, in a nicely-balanced wine that leads to a crisp, clean finish.
92 THE WINERY SF
2011 Chardonnay
North Coast $25
A nose of peach, pineapple, pear and hints of mango enveloped by vanilla, caramel and oak. Medium-bodied, well-balanced on the palate, this wine offers everything you’d expect in a California chardonnay.
91 EDUCATED GUESS
2009 Chardonnay
Napa Valley $17
90 BRUTOCAO
2011 Chardonnay
Bliss Vineyard - Mendocino $16
Fresh tropical and citrus fruit aromas are met with a good dose of toasty oak, followed by peach, pear and light cream. The palate is well balanced, crisp and clean delivering everything expected in a nice, long, lingering finish.
90 BRUTOCAO
2010 Chardonnay
Bliss Vineyard - Mendocino $16
A fruit-forward nose of citrus, tropical fruit, peach and pear, with touches of caramel/butterscotch, vanilla and oak. This wine is nicely balanced, clean and crisp, with a nice creamy finish.
90 CHIME
2010 Chardonnay
Napa County $20
90 FORCHINI
2010 Chardonnay
Estate Grown - Russian River Valley $12
90 IRONSTONE
2010 Chardonnay
Lodi $10
90 PEDRONCELLI
2009 Chardonnay
Vintage Selection - Dry Creek Valley $12
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