In this report we will cover 16 Chardonnays that scored 91 points or better. However, like we have found in the past, the best Chardonnays do come with a pretty high price tag. The price range of the 16 Chards in this post range from $25 to $70. These are the best Chards we reviewed this summer and I felt that they warranted a separate report. In a subsequent post we will cover the 90 point Chards along with the Chards that scored in the high 80’s.
So here we go. Which Chard was our favorite? It was the 2008 Paul Hobbs “Russian River Valley” Chardonnay for $45. It was the big winner of our big blind tasting. The panel collectively awarded this wine with an Excellent score of 94 points. The panel felt this wine was full-bodied, really well balanced, creamy, and quite impressive in the mouth. The flavor profile was a delicious mild apple with a touch of subtle oak. The panel felt this Chard would pair perfectly with Legal Sea Foods halibut stuffed with crabmeat.
The next wine scored big twice. Let me explain. We covered two vintages of this wine and it won big both times. The 2008 C. Donatiello “Orsi Vineyard” Chardonnay for $30 was one of the more impressive offerings I have tried this summer. I scored this Chard 93 points. It is full-bodied and very well balanced between its fruit and acidity. I loved its delicious Anjou pear flavors with notes of gentle vanilla oak mixed in. It would pair very well with one of my favorite dishes, Chicken St. Timothy. Next I present the 2007 C. Donatiello 2007 “Orsi Vineyard”. I tried this Chard this spring. It is a little lighter bodied than the 2008. But like the 2008 it is nicely balanced and shows pleasant gentle acidity. The flavor profile is also a little different with the 2007 showing mild green apple and subtle lime flavors. I scored this wine 91 points and it paired perfectly with my swordfish with a little lemon butter drizzle. Now for the downside. Both of these wines have very limited production. There are only 300 cases of the 2008 and 210 of the 2007. Start your search now! Your pursuit will be well worth it if you find some.
Next up is a Chard from a winery I never heard of until this year. My wife and I were out celebrating our 20th anniversary and this was the Chard we selected. Wow, we were rewarded! The 2007 Barnett Vineyards “Sangiacomo Vineyard” from Carneros is special. We awarded this wine 93 points. Even better, it only costs $32. So it provides a lot of quality for the money. It is full-bodied, nicely balanced, viscous, and smooth with delicious oak infused apricot flavors. We also picked up some notes of peach, spice, and a touch of honey as well. It paired perfectly with our shrimp ravioli.
The next Chard comes form one of my favorite Chardonnay vineyards. The 2007 Bjornstad 2007 “Richie Vineyard” for $40 is another impressive wine. This wine also received 93 points. It is full-bodied, well balanced, and smooth. Everyone loved this wine and it didn’t last very long. It displayed delicious gentle apple flavors with lightly integrated oak. You will have to hurry to get some, as only 208 cases were made!
The next Chard tied for second place in our Big Blind tasting. It was the 2007 Cakebread “Reserve” for $55. This wine also received 93 points. It is full-bodied, beautifully balanced, and velvety. The panel was really impressed with its tasty mild apple and vanilla flavors with a hint of banana and a touch of oak. This really good Chard would pair nicely with fettuccini alfredo.
The next Chard comes from another one of my favorite vineyards. It also was the other half of the tie for second place in our Big Blind tasting. It also received 93 points. The 2008 Stonestreet “Upper Barn” Chardonnay for $65 is another terrific wine. It is full-bodied, well balanced, soft, and silky and displays delicious mild oak infused Bartlett pear flavors with hints of honey and pineapple. The panel suggested pairing this gem with grilled trout.
The final 93 pointer comes from one of my favorite wineries which consistently produces one of my favorite Chardonnays. The 2006 Hanzell Chardonnay for $70 is an attractive wine with a fragrant light oak and crème brulee bouquet with a hint of lemon. It is well balanced and displays delicious lightly oaked green apple flavors with a hint of lime. It would be ideal with one of my favorite dishes, Chicken St. Timothy.
Our next Chard is the best deal in the report. It is one of our favorites every year and it seems to continue to fly under the radar. What is this mystery wine? The 2008 Navarro “Premiere Reserve” Chardonnay from the Anderson Valley received 92 points. The most impressive part, is this wine only costs $25. It is full-bodied, well balanced, and creamy with yummy mild green apple flavors with notes of mild oak and hints of mineral and green melon mixed in. This is a great deal and I would serve it cool and with chicken ravioli with a mushroom cream sauce.
The next Chard is also a 92 pointer and is also a good deal because you can get it for less than its $35 list price. I have seen this wine for a mid to high $20’s price which makes it a bargain given its quality. The 2008 Kendall Jackson “Jackson Hills” is their new premium label. It is formulated in a traditional CA Chard style. It is full-bodied, nicely balanced, and very smooth. The flavor profile is a tasty mild lemon-lime with nicely integrated oak. For the money, this wine is a steal. One of my readers recently told me he could not believe how good this was given the price.
The next offering is made by Wente on behalf of Annika Sorenstram. Her 2008 Chardonnay for $40 also received 92 points. Like the KJ above, it is made in a classic California style. It is well balanced and smooth with very tasty Clementine flavors and notes of banana, butter, and mild light toasted oak. This Chard shows very nice finesse and was pretty popular with our mini tasting group.
The next Chard received a “Standing Ovation” from the tasters that tried it. It was the 2007 Freestone “Ovation” for $45. It is full-bodied, well balanced, and elegant with tasty Anjou pear flavors. We also detected notes of integrated oak and a touch of tangerine mixed in. The group loved its very refined style and awarded it with 92 points. They would pair it with a cedar plank cooked rainbow trout.
The next two Chards are our last two 92 point Chards. The first is the 2008 Benovia “La Pommeraie” Chard for $48. This very limited production Chard was full-bodied, well balanced, and very appealing. As a matter of fact, it did not last very long as tasters quickly went for seconds. They really like its slightly tangy green apple flavors with a touch of minerals, tangerine, and delicate oak in the background. Next was the 2007 Far Niente “Napa” Chardonnay for $56. It opens with a very attractive Bosc Pear-like bouquet with hints of oak and vanilla. On the palate it displays very interesting and different unripe pineapple flavors with hints of mango and some mineral notes as well. This was very popular at a party I was attending recently. It, like the Benovia, did not last long.
Our final two Chards in this report both finished with 91 points. The first is the 2007 Fogdog Chardonnay from the “Sonoma Coast.” This $35 offering is for those readers who truly enjoy an oak-influenced Chardonnay. It is medium to full-bodied, very nicely balanced, and rich with oak influenced light lemon custard flavors. Our group of tasters thought this rich Chard would be a perfect match for lobster bisque.
The last wine is from the same winery. The 2007 Freestone Chardonnay for $55 made quite an impression on the panel. It is medium-bodied and perfectly balanced between its fruit and acidity. It displays very tasty apple flavors with a perfect dose of light oak. The panel thought this terrific Chard would pair perfectly with grilled halibut or grilled swordfish with a mango salsa.
As you can see, these Chards are all very special wines. They are top notch offerings for readers who enjoy Ultra Premium Chards. It might take some effort to find some of these, but trust me it will be worth it. Please feel free to comment if you find and try one or more of these. We welcome your comments. In our next report we will cover Chards that scored 90 to 87 points. Check back in two weeks for that post.
Cheers!
Ken