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| 2008 Chamisal Vineyards Stainless Steel Chardonnay | ** |
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Region |
Price |
Purchased |
Drank |
| Edna Valley, CA |
$18 |
@ the Winery |
9/13/10 |
| A pale, lemon-gold-colored wine with bright aromatics of tropical and citrus fruit with hints of flowers and minerals. The palate is medium-bodied, well-balanced and lush (25% went through malolactic fermentation to help soften the wine), but with a refreshing acidity that keeps it from being cloying. The flavors are vibrant with lemon creme, pinepapple, melon and peach taking center stage with notes of coconut and banana on the medium-length finish. Would have given 3 stars if the finish was a bit stronger. A lovely wine for the price and a Chardonnay that will please those not overly fond of the varietal. I don't buy or drink a lot of Chard, but this is a wine I will be purchasing every vintage. |
| 2007 Lioco Sonoma County Chardonnay | *** |
 |
Region |
Price |
Tasted |
Drank |
| Sonoma, CA |
$20 |
Taste of the Nation |
6/1/08 |
| A pale, lemon-green colored, light-bodied wine with bright aromas of citrus and stone fruits and notes of blossoms and minerals. The palate is full of ripe fruit (apple, pear, citrus), refreshing acidity and a creamy texture from time on its lees. The cool climate and steel-tank fermentation make this a crisp, fruit forward, complex wine with a lovely mouthfeel and vivid finish. More like Chablis than most CA Chardonnays. Butter lovers need to steer clear of this wine. For me, it's right up my alley. |
| 2007 Luli Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay | *** |
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Region |
Price |
Tasted |
Drank |
| Santa Cruz Mtns, CA |
$20 |
Mission Wines |
4/26/08 |
| Pale, lemon-colored wine with youthful aromas of citrus, tropical fruit and hints of flowers. The palate is crisp and creamy with flavors of lemon, pear, apple, melon and a tiny hint of vanilla on the finish. Some time in neutral oak barrels adds complexity and softness to the mouthfeel as the lack of malo keeps the fluit flavors bright and the acidity refreshing. Am becoming a real fan of Chards from this region, mostly because the winemakers are letting the fruit shine by leaving the butter and oak out. A chardonnay I would drink with pleasure and an amazing value as well. |
| 2007 Sobon Estate NOBOS Chardonnay | ** |
 |
Region |
Price |
Purchased |
Drank |
| Monterey, CA |
$20 |
Sample |
1/12/10 |
| A medium, lemon-colored wine with moderate aromas of citrus, apple and oak with hints of tropical fruit. The palate is medium-full-bodied with moderate acidity and a creamy texture with flavors of lemon creme, ripe apple, oak and sweet spice along with notes of almond and buttered toast on the medium-length finish. Sourced from the Scheid Vineyard, this wine surprised me as I'm not a big fan of oak in my Chardonnay. Was not as oaky with our dinner of Lemon Chicken with Artichokes and Green Olives, which really brought out the fruit. A well-crafted Chardonnay that should please both oak lovers and haters by sticking to the middle ground. Good QPR. |
| 2007 Oreana Winery "Project Happiness" Chardonnay | ** |
 |
Region |
Price |
Purchased |
Drank |
| Santa Barbara, CA |
$7 |
Trader Joe's |
4/10/09 |
| A pale, lemon-colored wine with aromas of ripe apple, pear and lemon with notes of vanilla and sweet spice. The palate is light-bodied and creamy, yet with a crisp, minerally acidity that keeps the ripe pear and stone fruit flavors from being too sweet. Notes of butterscotch, almond and lemon creme on the finish. A nice, basic everyday wine that delivers more flavor and balance than one would expect for the price. A great party wine for a hot summer day. Enjoyed it at a tasting last month and just had to try it again. Plus the label is just too cute. |
| 2006 Coquelicot Winery Estate Chardonnay | ** |
 |
Region |
Price |
Purchased |
Drank |
| Santa Barbara, CA |
$22 |
@ the Winery |
4/9/10 |
| A pale, lemon-yellow colored wine with an aromatic nose of tropical fruit, ripe apple and pear with hints of lemon and lime. The palate is medium-bodied and creamy with well-balanced acidity, showing the same fruit flavors found on the nose along with notes of mango and honey as the wine warmed. While not overly complex, this wine was delightful and delivered lively fruit flavors from start to finish. This wine was fermented and aged in stainless steel and did not undergo malolactic fermentation, allowing the fruit to speak for itself. Very good QPR (especially since it's now selling for $14) and a wine that still has at least a year or two left in the bottle. Am not generally a chard fan, but I wish I had more. (14.5% abv) |
| 2006 Eric Kent Wine Cellars Russian River Chardonnay | ** |
 |
Region |
Price |
Tasted |
Drank |
| Sonoma, CA |
$34 |
Mission Wines |
4/19/08 |
| A pale lemon colored wine with bright, tropical and green fruit aromas including banana, apple and pear with notes of vanilla and hazelnut. The palate is nicely balanced with moderate acidity and a creamy texture. The flavors from the nose follow through in the taste with addional hints of butter and pineapple on the medium length finish. Elegant and crisp, but nothing that knocked my socks off. A good example of cool climate Chardonnay and one those tired of over-oaked, butter bombs will enjoy. |
| 2006 Lafond Winery Chardonnay, Wente Clone in Stainless Steel | ** |
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Region |
Price |
Tasted |
Drank |
| Santa Barbara, CA |
$38 |
@ the Winery |
11/24/07 |
| I usually like chards without oak, but this one though crisp and lively, didn't have enough fruit to compensate for the acidity. Mostly citrus and green fruit flavors on the nose and palate. A stronger finish would have made for a more memorable wine. |
| 2006 Lincourt Vineyards Chardonnay | ** |
 |
Region |
Price |
Tasted |
Drank |
| Santa Barbara, CA |
$18 |
@ the Winery |
11/24/07 |
| A full-bodied wine with tropical fruits, lemon and toast on the nose follows through on the palate with a rich mouthfeel that has enough acid to keep it interesting. Nothing memorable, but a truly enjoyable wine for the price. |
| 2006 Morgan Winery Highlands Chardonnay | ** |
 |
Region |
Price |
Tasted |
Drank |
| Santa Cruz, CA |
$26 |
@ the Wine House |
3/3/08 |
A pale, intense lemon colored wine with bright aromatics of citrus and pear with hints of butter and minerals. The palate is medium-bodied with big tropical fruits flavors and well-integrated notes of bread and butter. The finish is crisp with a touch of minerality. A nice example, in a cool-climate style, that shows a different, classier side to the usually over-oaked California chardonnays.
OTHER RATINGS: WE: 91 |
| 2006 Morgan Winery Metallico Chardonnay | ** |
|
Region |
Price |
Tasted |
Drank |
| Monterey, CA |
$20 |
@ the Wine House |
3/3/08 |
This stainless-steel version of Monterey chardonnay is a pale, lemon color with youthful aromas of lemon, green apple, minerals, spice and honey. The palate is lively with medium acidity with the same flavors that appear on the nose and a good, balanced finish. Since it did not go through malolactic fermentation, the wine shows a nice purity of fruit often hidden by that process.
OTHER RATINGS: WE: 89 |
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**** Outstanding | *** Delicious | ** Enjoyable | * Drinkable
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