BUYING GUIDE - Wine Enthusiast Magazine

in acidity; and there may even be a touch of botrytis, to
judge from the golden apricot note that rides over the
pears, limes and buttery cream. Bone dry and minerally,
it’s an elegant, Chablis-style wine for drinking now.
—S.H.
abv: 14.5% Price: $30
91
MacRostie 2010 Chardonnay (Sonoma
Coast). For full review see page 8. Editors’
Choice.
abv: 14.1% Price: $25
91
Sorelle Per Sempre 2010 Un-Oaked Sustainable
Farming Chardonnay (Central
Coast). For full review see page 9. Editors’ Choice.
abv: 13.6% Price: $16
91
Stonestreet 2010 Upper Barn Chardonnay
(Alexander Valley). This Chardonnay
has all the bells and whistles the winemaker can bestow
on it. It’s soft and creamy, with flavors of sweetly-sour
pineapple and lemon-drop candy, buttered toast and savory
cinnamon spices. Fine acidity gives a sheen to the
richness. —S.H.
abv: 14.5% Price: $60
91
Talley 2010 Estate Bottled Chardonnay
(Arroyo Grande Valley). For full review see
page 9.
abv: 14.4% Price: $26
91
Two Sisters 2009 Courtney’s Vineyard
Chardonnay (Sta. Rita Hills).
There’s a bright, brisk vein of acidity in this dry wine,
which stimulates the palate and gets the tastebuds
watering. The true flavors sink into the middle palate,
suggesting grilled pineapple, tangerine jam and buttered
toast. A firm minerality grounds and braces the
richness. Don’t drink this Chardonnay too cold. —S.H.
abv: 14.3% Price: $55
90
Annabella 2010 Chardonnay (Napa Valley).
A clean, spicy Chardonnay, with classic
flavors of oranges, green apples, pears and spices. The
oak influence is minimal, allowing the fruit and acidity
to star. This shows an elegance that places it at the
forefront of Chardonnays in this price range. Editors’
Choice. —S.H.
abv: 13.5% Price: $13
90
Babcock 2010 The Mentor Chardonnay
(Sta. Rita Hills). An eccentric Chardonnay,
with botrytis-like flavors of apricot jam and honey dominating,
but there also are rich notes of buttered toast
and tropical fruit. It’s dry and creamy and a little warm.
Drink over the next 3 years. —S.H.
abv: 15.3% Price: $45
90
Babcock 2010 Top Cream Chardonnay
(Sta. Rita Hills). Strongly flavored, this Chardonnay
marches to its own beat. Some will object to the
apricot, golden currant and butterscotch tastes as atypical,
but they’re quite complex and original. It finishes
thoroughly dry and crisp. Drink over the next 3–4 years.
—S.H.
abv: 14.8% Price: $45
90
Chappellet 2010 Chardonnay (Napa Valley).
This effort is similar to Chappellet’s past
vintages, with citrus and tropical fruit flavors, tastefully
accented by oak and brightened with a squeeze of lemony
acidity. —S.H.
abv: 14.9% Price: $32
90
Girard 2009 Dutton Ranch - Mill Station
Chardonnay (Russian River Valley). This
is a rich, complex Chardonnay that’s made to appeal to
fans of the variety. Acidity brightens the green apple,
peach and pear flavors, while oak brings notes of buttered
toast and caramel. The alcohol is a little high and
warm, making the wine ready to drink now. —S.H.
abv: 14.7% Price: $30
90
Hanzell 2010 Sebella Chardonnay (Sonoma
Valley). For full review see page 9.
abv: 14.2% Price: $36
90
Kendall-Jackson 2010 Avant Chardonnay
(California). For full review see page 12.
Best Buy.
abv: 13.5% Price: $15
90
La Crema 2010 Chardonnay (Russian
River Valley). For full review see page 10.
abv: 14.2% Price: $30
90
La Crema 2010 Chardonnay (Sonoma
Coast). For full review see page 10.
abv: 13.8% Price: $22
90
Liquid Farm 2010 Golden Slope Chardonnay
(Sta. Rita Hills). Polished and
creamy, this is made to appeal to the popular style. It’s
rich and ripe in tangerine, apricot and lime fruit, with
toasty, vanilla overtones. Brightened by crisp acidity, it’s
a lovely wine to drink now. —S.H.
abv: 14.1% Price: $50
90
McIntyre Vineyards 2010 Estate Chardonnay
(Santa Lucia Highlands). This is a
flamboyant wine made in the oaky style. It’s opulent in
pineapple, golden mango and pear flavors, with a coating
of sweet oak. The richness is brightened by tart acidity.
Drink this flashy wine now, with the richest fare you
can. —S.H.
abv: NA Price: $28
90
Merryvale 2010 Chardonnay (Carneros).
For full review see page 10.
abv: 14.5% Price: $35
90
Pride Mountain 2010 Vintner Select Chardonnay
(Sonoma County). This is always a
gigantic wine, and its success depends on technically
balancing its various parts. The 2010 delivers the usual
richness, with vast, deep fruit, mineral, oak and leesy
flavors. It’s as full bodied as a red wine, but a little heavy
for a Chardonnay. Not an ager, it’s best enjoyed now
with the richest Chardonnay-friendly dishes. —S.H.
abv: 14.4% Price: $48
89
Chamisal Vineyards 2011 Stainless Unoaked
Chardonnay (Central Coast). The
lime, kiwi, orange and lemon fruit flavors are so delicious,
you won’t miss the oak accents at all. Its bright,
vital acidity makes it shine like polished silver. This is a
very good food win at a reasonable price. With 20,000
cases produced, it should be relatively easy to find. Editors’
Choice. —S.H.
abv: 13.5% Price: $18
89
Fort Ross 2010 Bicentennial Commemorative
Bottling Chardonnay (Sonoma
Coast). This is rich and oaky, with ripe orange, pineapple
and pear flavors and the buttered toast of oak barrel
aging. Almost too much of a good thing, it trades nuance
for sheer power, but it’s certainly a good example of the
California style. —S.H.
abv: 14.1% Price: $34
89
Gallo Signature Series 2009 Chardonnay
(Russian River Valley). This is a minerally
and oaky wine, but it’s balanced with fine acidity.
Despite the ripe pineapple and orange flavors, this finishes
thoroughly dry. Don’t drink it too cold. —S.H.
abv: 14.5% Price: $30
89
Kessler-Haak 2010 Kessler-Haak Vineyard
Chardonnay (Sta. Rita Hills). Very
much like the fine 2009, the winery’s new Chardonnay
is bone dry and austere, like a Chablis. Highly minerally,
with mouthwatering acidity, the fruit flavors veer
toward Meyer lemons and limes. —S.H.
abv: 14.1% Price: $38
89
Lucia 2010 Soberanes Vineyard Chardonnay
(Santa Lucia Highlands). An eccentric
Chardonnay, although it’s well made and has intellectual
appeal. Bone dry and acidic, this has intense
flavors of apricots, pineapples and honey. It should age
for up to 8 years, gradually losing fruit and gaining
earthy, minerally qualities. —S.H.
abv: NA Price: $45
89
Ojai 2009 Chardonnay (Santa Barbara
County). Made in the Ojai style of modest
alcohol, dryness and delicacy, this offers subtle citrus,
tropical fruit and mineral flavors. It’s not terribly complex,
but it is streamlined and elegant. Drink up. —S.H.
abv: 13.5% Price: $24
89
Porter Family Vineyards 2009 Chardonnay
(Napa Valley). Made in the modern
style of oaky creaminess and very flashy fruit, this
Chardonnay erupts in a burst of oranges and rum
punch, buttered toast and honey. It’s rich and layered, if
a little soft. —S.H.
abv: 14.2% Price: $38
89
Staglin 2009 Chardonnay (Rutherford).
Big, rich and oaky, this is packed with flavors
of buttered toast, buttered popcorn, honey and tropical
fruit flavors. It’s a ripe, flashy wine, with broad appeal.
Drink with opulent fare, like shellfish risotto or crab in
drawn butter. —S.H.
abv: 14.5% Price: $75
89
Starmont 2010 Chardonnay (Napa Valley).
For full review see page 11. Editors’
Choice.
abv: 13.9% Price: $22
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