What Is The Best Chardonnay Wine To Buy !NEW!
Made using certified organic grapes, this California Chardonnay is partially fermented and aged in oak barrels but its profile remains fresh and fruity. Luscious pears and a spray of citrus set the tone on the nose, while the palate brings a hint of herby complexity. File this under: great weeknight wine or a light white to kick off the night. Average price: $14. Rating: 88.
what is the best chardonnay wine to buy
Like a delicious lemon tart, this Chardonnay invites with sweet, zesty, citrus aromas. The similarities between wine and desert continue on its creamy palate, where acidity retains freshness and its 14 percent alcohol content is seamlessly incorporated. This is a standout value pick. Average price: $22. Rating: 90.
From Lake County, Calif., this is an austere, fruity Chardonnay. Pear springs out on the nose, followed by muted mineral notes. The palate is soft and dry, and once again gives center stage to orchard fruit. Stick this refreshing wine in the cooler for your next picnic. Average price: $23. Rating: 88.
Talk about a steal: This is a barrel-fermented, Napa Valley Chard that comes in at less than $25. Aged for up to seven months in oak, the wine received twice-monthly stirring on lees to enhance its creamy texture. That richness is offset by tropical fruit and flinty aromas, as well as lively acidity. This wine is an exhibition in balance and restraint. Average price: $24. Rating: 89.
Another Carneros offering, this wine is also a shining celebration of texture. The subtle fruit that presents itself is of the citrus variety, but the wonder of this wine lies in its gentle grip, confident body, and vibrant acidity. Average price: $32. Rating: 91.
Coastal fog in the West Sebastopol region of the Russian River Valley allows the Chardonnay grapes for this wine to remain on vines well into October, all the while developing expressive aroma and flavor compounds. Its orchard and stone fruit notes dazzle from the get go, while French oak and bracing acidity provide controlled, well-balanced opulence. For food pairings, we suggest some simple grilled chicken thighs with a peppery arugula salad. Average price: $32. Rating: 93.
A shining example of responsible oak use, this Chardonnay treads a delicate path between bright fruit notes and subtle richness. White flowers combine with a sprinkling of vanilla on the nose, while the palate serves racy acidity and well rounded texture around a stone fruit core. This release is a wine club exclusive, but Balletto consistently produces excellent wines, so signing up might not be such a bad idea. Average price: $39. Rating: 92.
The top-of-the-range permanent expression of Chardonnay from Sonoma-Cutrer, this wine captures the American ideal of the variety in glass (and bottle). Aged for a total of 13 months, with regular lees stirring during that time, the wine dances between concentrated fresh fruit and soft, creamy, butter on nose and palate. Average price: $45. Rating: 89.
From Anderson Valley in Mendocino County, this small-production wine serves a high-definition expression of Chardonnay. A creamy nose suggests it went through full or partial malolactic fermentation, and the sweet scent marries nicely with stone fruit scents and a hint of white pepper. Acidity, alcohol, and fruit character land in equal proportions on the palate. Average price: $60. Rating: 90.
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To help discover new selections to try that align with your personal preferences, we combed through recent Chardonnay reviews from around the globe to find outstanding wines diverse enough in flavors, textures and price points to please anyone.
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Wente is responsible for many of the Chardonnay vines in the United States. This iconic Chardonnay is bursting with aromatics of citrus and green apple complemented by hints of toasty oak and vanilla, this wine is balanced by a lingering minerality and natural acidity to create a beautiful wine.
Most Chardonnay is dry. While the style of the wine can vary greatly based on winemaking practices and growing conditions, for the most part Chardonnay is a dry white wine with a medium to full body, moderate acidity, and moderate alcohol.
One of the main reasons is simply the tremendously slim margin Costco takes thanks to their membership model. Basically they make their money on membership fees allowing them to keep product prices, including those on wine (and beer), very low. Their selection isn't the broadest but they do tend to bring in some very nice wines from all over the world (places like California, Washington, France, Italy, Australia, Argentina, Spain and Portugal to name a few), especially in the under $20 price point.
While most of the Costco wines are available elsewhere (albeit at slightly higher prices) keep your eyes out for deals on lesser-known labels as well. Inventory of wines will vary by market and even by store within a market so at times you can find some low production wines available in an individual store. (And if you see them, grab them -- turnover is very high so what's there today could very well be gone tomorrow.) Also, in some states you don't even need a membership to shop the store.
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Click to get the current report and list!Among the chief similarities (aside from their raving fans) is the focus on private label brands, including in wine. And while TJ's also mixes in a fair amount of national brands, ALDI does not. In fact, in many ALDI USA stores, the only wines available will be private label.
Just like a lot of other retailers, they do this to cut out middlemen and drive down prices. It seems to be working because while the overall selection of wine at ALDI USA is not huge -- unfortunately, we don't get the amazing selection that the UK and European stores do -- the prices are CHEAP with almost everything less than $10.
Typically stocked with a number of stand-bys for red wine, white wine and bubbles, they also rotate in special selections to change up the assortment. We cover both types here in our constantly updated list of The Best ALDI Wines!
And one last note, if it's your first trip to ALDI and you're planning on stocking up on wine, don't forget a quarter for the shopping cart and to bring your own bags! (And also be sure to stop by their excellent cheese section for some great pairing options.)
Without the help of a knowledgable wine store salesperson (and I don't know about you, but my local supermarket certainly doesn't have one of those), it can be hard to figure out which wine is good. Fortunately, try-while-you-buy wines may be in our near future, but for tips in the meantime, I talked to sommelier and food writer Lisa Elbert to find 13 reliable bottles that you can find right now, wherever you shop for wine.
Bogle is a high-volume producer of a number of different wine varietals, so you're likely to find it at a supermarket near you. But, says Elbert, "it's family-owned and run by farmers," so the quality of the wine is just as reliable as the quantity. Their Zinfandel is lush and lively with red berry notes and is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
As mentioned above, this producer is one of the largest domaines in Burgundy and the grapes in this Chardonnay come entirely from that region, at a very reasonable price point. It's primarily aged in stainless steel, which gives it a refreshing crispness, but spends a short time in oak, which softens the wine with notes of honey and vanilla.
This solid, easy-to-find sparkling wine "pairs with almost everything," says Elbert. "It's great on its own or mixed into cocktails." At the price, you can grab a few bottles to sip all night long, or just serve it with appetizers or dessert.
It's a sparkling rosé featuring three Bs that Elbert says, "you've probably never heard of:" two grapes, Baga and Bical, and the Portuguese wine region Bairrada. "It's aromatic, acidic, tannic, and made in the same style as Champagne." Most importantly: it's delicious.
We should all be grateful that California winemakers listened to their consumers, began scaling back their use of oak and instead let the beautiful flavors of Napa Valley grown grapes shine through. Today some Napa Valley winemakers still use oak to accent their wines, but we like to think the current use is more like a wood frame to highlight the beautiful characteristics of valley grown fruit rather than an oppressive one. Some winemakers ferment Chardonnay in stainless steel, while others ferment in barrels. Some choose to age in oak for a few months and some choose to not age in oak at all, so wine lovers today have a variety of California Chardonnays to choose from.
The prestigious Hyde Vineyard is co-owned by Aubert de Villaine who also co-owns Domaine de la Romanée-Conti in Burgundy. This wine is proudly Napa made but most definitely Burgundian in style. It has aromas of honeysuckle, jasmine and lime pith with hints of freshly ground nutmeg in the enticing bouquet. Upon entry into the mouth there is vibrant acidity and a strong backbone of minerality with flavors of Granny Smith apple and lemon curd. The finish is long with a delightful splash of acidity on the post palate. 041b061a72