Avni means ‘stone’ or ‘rock’ and refers to the volcanic geology of the Willamette Valley with its shallow red soils and basalt rocks. This Chardonnay is a beautiful reflection of this terroir with a nose that is astonishingly pure and mineral, all riverbed stones with fresh water rushing over. A fine seam of lemon runs right through the centre of these aromas. It is poised and just lovely. The palate is very much a continuation of the nose, that fine lemon backbone weaving freshness into the wine. A hint of fleshy, white stone fruit comes through but there is quite a lot of crisp red apple too in this wine’s refreshingly moreish character. The stone fruit fleshiness builds with every taste whilst a peach kernel character keeps it focused. There is a lovely fluidity of texture on the palate and that purity continues. This is a balletic, poised, dancing style of Chardonnay, not heavy or oaky at all; it is completely harmonious and absolutely delicious.

Full bodied, green apple, pear, pineapple, vanilla, and oak, with full mouthfeel, fades with body, tropical fruit, and mild oak and finishes with smooth body and mild tartness and acidity. Very nice!

The cool and foggy Carneros region is known for producing grapes with a natural balance of acidity and ripeness. The fruit was hand-picked on a cool night to ensure it reached the winery in pristine condition. This elegantly balanced, medium-bodied wine is half barrel fermented and aged sur-lie. The wine displays inviting notes of tropical fruit and citrus blossom on the nose that gives way to peach and pear flavors on the palette.

At Duckhorn Vineyards, we have been making our Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc since 1982. Harvested from our estates and select Napa Valley vineyards, this rich and elegant Sauvignon Blanc was blended with Sémillon to add depth and complexity. Fermented and aged using both stainless steel and French oak, it offers ripe citrus and tropical flavors, refreshing acidity and Sémillon-driven silkiness.

Matthew Jukes,MatthewJukes.com, 5th February 2021 "Of course one has to be prepared for a full-framed style when dealing with Californian Chardonnay, so I was impressed to see that under the expressive, cool-climate, Russian River-influenced fruit there is a beating heart of refreshing acidity which electrifies this dynamic wine. Made from a blend of fruit from three vineyards, each with their specific microclimates, this is a seriously fascinating new release and I was fully prepared for a fifty-pound price tag attached to this terrific flavour. So, if you are searching for a top-flight Californian Chardonnay which doesn`t cost the earth then here it is and if anyone puts you on the spot, I can assure you that you have nothing to worry about!"

Ramey certainly one of the best, most stylish Chardonnay-makers in CA. Jeb Dunnock. 97 pts "More tropical and citrus notes emerge from the 2017 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard, which has a beautiful chalky minerality as well as medium to full-bodied richness, bright, racy acidity, a crisp texture, and a great finish. With remarkable purity of fruit as well as a chiseled mouthfeel, it's another magical Chardonnay from this estate that will stand up to any Grand Cru White Burgundy out there. It has plenty to love today yet will be best with 2-3 years of bottle age and keep for over a decade."

Ramey certainly one of the best, most stylish Chardonnay-makers in CA. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 95pts "The 2018 Chardonnay Woolsey Road Vineyard was aged 20 months in 25% new French oak. It's a lovely, mineral-driven style, with scents that segue from iodine and dashi to spiced apples and quince. The palate is silky, featherweight and minerally, finishing very long and lifted."

Winemaker Tasting Notes: "Pale, sun-bleached straw color with aromas of fresh lemon zest, green apple, wet stone, and honeysuckle flowers. Creamy texture on the palate with juicy acidity, notes of salinity, and citrus blossom and pineapple on the finish."

From one of California’s top-rated vineyards, this outstanding Chardonnay displays fleshy brioche and ripe citrus flavours. Made in more of a Burgundian style rather than the big, rich, overly oaked examples that are becoming past fashionable. Beautifully constructed, fresh pear and white peach scents are sharpened by citrus notes. Great food wine, chicken or creamy cheeses pair especially well.

Ramey certainly one of the best, most stylish Chardonnay-makers in CA. The 2017 Rochioli is full of white fruit, pear and lovely florality / hint of honey on the nose. It has a medium bodied palate and is energetic and yet has a smooth depth of yellow plum fruit, butter. This is deep and layered – a delicious Chardonnay. Powerful and a touch closed at the moment and so id give it another 3-5 years in bottle at least.

Au Bon Climat’s “Hildegard” is a recreation of the original varietal planting of the Corton Charlemagne vineyard in 800 A.D. Chardonnay was not part of the mix at the time, but rather Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Aligoté. The combination of this unique blend with long term barrel aging (2 years) made something special. It has a texture, complexity, and distinctiveness that cannot be found in a single white wine varietal. Hand harvested, whole cluster pressed and put into barrel to ferment. The 3 varietals age separate for 2 years in 100% new François Frères French oak barrels. Lovely aroma of vanilla and hazelnuts from the oak, and a mouth-coating richness, makes for a wine that seems like Chardonnay. But the fruit profile is more bruised apple and pear, and the aromas are more floral than Chardonnay. Minerally lavender and vanilla note from the fermentation/aging regime in top-notch barrels. Aromas of ripe stone fruit, contrast nicely with fresh herbal scent as the wine is initially evaluated.

A refreshing, dry white with citrus lemon/lime notes, flinty minerality, and crisp finish. In the mouth the wine is rich and textural, from the time spent on lees in the barrel. This is a great match with shellfish of any kind, or richer white meats such as turkey or duck.

Chateau Montelena’s Napa Chardonnay showed that the new world could create classically balanced and complex wines in its own voice, and that from the right sites and with perseverance, the results could equal anything made the world over. Through fads and trends, Montelena has never changed in its philosophy of bringing the sunshine of California in a style that is structured, balanced and age worthy. In 1976, in what is now memorialized as “The Judgment of Paris”, Chateau Montelena Napa Valley Chardonnay was the top-ranking wine against four white Burgundies and five other California Chardonnays in a blind tasting with a who’s-who of the French food and wine industry judging. And as they say, the rest is history. The wine opens with fresh peach, apricot, and honeydew amidst citrus blossom and rose water. The diversity of aromas in this vintage is astounding as the floral characteristics begin to take center stage with time in the glass along with ample fresh pear and cinnamon. The palate is lush viscous, and driven by lemon curd, the palate leans toward creaminess but with enough bright acid, green apple, and toast to bring balance and finesse. The ripeness of the vintage drives the mouthfeel as the flavors exude freshness and vibrancy, a unique combination. The finish is concentrated and persistent, again stone fruit appear, albeit in candied form, along with a hint of white pepper and plenty of orange zest.

Bright and crisp with refreshing notes of citrus, apple, ripe pineapple and tropical fruits and a creamy mouthfeel. And it has the Hoopes family beloved dog Dante on the label. How adorable!

Elegant and well-balanced, Avalon CHARD offers aromas of Golden Delicious apple, orange blossom, guava with hints of vanilla and baking spices. These lovely characteristics flow through to the palate leading to a crisp and refreshing finish.

"The 2017 Chardonnay Bien Nacido Vineyard comes from a Grand Cru site in the Santa Maria Valley and was fermented and aged 18 months in 50% new French oak. This Burgundian beauty gives up lots of caramelized citrus, toasted bread, and spice-driven aromatics and shows medium-bodied richness on the palate, with bright acidity and some classic Santa Maria salinity and seaside-like nuances. You can drink bottles today, yet they'll also keep for over a decade." Jeb Dunnock 94pts

Yay! Proper old school unreconstructed big-boy CA chard. Ripe pineapple fruit, butter and banana, creamy as cream, just enough coconut oak. Super well done.

Parker 92 "offers loads of floral perfume on the nose, with touches of baker's yeast beeswax and apricots. The medium-bodied palate is silky, fresh and expansive, with loads of honeyed fruits and a very long, layered finish."

Ramey certainly one of the best, most stylish Chardonnay-makers in CA. Considered by many to be one of the Russian River Valley’s Grand Cru sites, the Ritchie Vineyard is in high demand by the best of the region’s wineries. The plot allocated to Ramey was planted to Wente selection in 1972. The gnarled vines produce but a few bunches of grapes each year, yet the fruit is consistently excellent due to the combination of sandy benchland soil, a cool microclimate and attentive farming. According to Jeb Dunnuck, the 2017 Ritchie “has remarkable purity and elegance to go with ample richness (which is the hallmark of this site) as well as notes of ripe lemon and citrus fruits, lots of spice and crushed rock-like minerality, medium to full-bodied richness, and a great finish. It’s up with the top Chardonnay in the vintage but needs 2-3 years of bottle age.” Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay will pair well with fresh crab or chicken with a mushroom sauce.

Long-established star winery of Santa Barbara. Creamy vanilla, rich but all in balance. Impressive. Santa Barbara County Chardonnay is a beautiful example of the Au Bon Climat style. The flinty, stony aromas stand out while in the background is a hard spice note from “sur lie” barrel aging. There are notes of lemon-lime and soft vanilla.

Serious classic, a benchmark of Burgundian style in California. Broad-boned, multi-layered savoury/saline/mineral complexity. Packs an impressive punch at the price.

Serious classic, a benchmark of Burgundian style in California. Broad-boned, multi-layered savoury/saline/mineral complexity. Packs an impressive punch at the price.

Graceful, pure and polished, this enticing Chardonnay offers tantalizing aromas of green apple, nectarine and candied citrus, with fragrant hints of roasted nuts and acacia blossoms. On the palate, it is rich and lushly textured, with a flowing elegance that frames the fresh citrus and stone fruit flavors, while carrying the wine to a long, silky finish. 100% Chardonnay; Oak Profile & Aging: 50% Stainless Steel Fermentation, 50% Barrel Fermentation and 35% New French Oak