BUYING GUIDE - Wine Enthusiast Magazine

tirely in stainless steel and meant to be enjoyed fresh
and young. Squeaky clean on the palate with hints of
white peach, underripe pineapple, lime pith and a
bright, lemony acidity that tickles the palate. —A.I.
abv: 12% Price: $17
89
Paumanok 2010 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay
(North Fork of Long Island). Exuberant
aromas of white blossoms and ripe stonefruit
settle substantially in the glass, revealing a rich yet layered
palate that marries sweet cream and butter notes
with lemon pith, smoke and striking acidity. Full and
opulent, but elegant and balanced. Drink now. —A.I.
abv: 13.9% Price: $24
88
Knapp 2011 Barrel Reserve Chardonnay
(Finger Lakes). Our first taste of the 2011
Chards from the Finger Lakes, Knapp’s Barrel Reserve
is wonderfully crisp and refreshing with an abundance
of fresh pear and lemon flavor. Subtly oaked with just
a hint of vanilla and cream that lingers on the palate.
Drink now. —A.I.
abv: 13% Price: $14
87
Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards 2010 Chardonnay
(Finger Lakes). Fragrant apple blossom and
vanilla custard notes are delightful on this luxurious and
balanced Chardonnay. Sweet butter and cream notes on
the midpalate add weight, but are offset by brisk acidity
and a spray of saline on the finish. —A.I.
abv: 12% Price: $15
87
Hosmer Winery 2010 Chardonnay (Cayuga
Lake). The scents of lightly toasted oak,
waxy lemon rind and orange blossoms are enticing. On
the palate, ripe, concentrated peach and apricot flavors
are bathed in a subtly-sweet cream note that adds richness,
but isn’t cloying. Brisk with acidity, the finish is
eminently refreshing. —A.I.
abv: 13.1% Price: $13
87
Knapp 2011 Chardonnay (Finger Lakes).
This is intensely aromatic, with loads of tropical
fruit, apple blossom and white peach notes on the nose
and palate. It’s fresh, tasty and big in body, yet deftly
balanced. Soft, lemony acidity on the midpalate gets a
boost of citrus rind and saline on the finish. Best Buy.
—A.I.
abv: 13.5% Price: $12
86
Sherwood House Vineyards 2010 Chardonnay
(North Fork of Long Island).
Sweet scents of apple, tropical fruit and sweet butter
are layered amid nuances of smoke and toasted oak on
this full-bodied, savory Chardonnay. While smoky and
dark in profile on the palate, it’s maintains crisp apple
and lemon flavors through the finish. —A.I.
abv: 13% Price: $30
86
Six Mile Creek 2010 Chardonnay (Finger
Lakes). Scents of lemon zest, underripe
pineapple and white flower abound on this dry,
surprisingly-lean Chardonnay, with hints of sweet cream
and vanilla. Brisk with crisp apple flavor, it finishes clean
with just a hint of salinity. —A.I.
abv: 13% Price: $13
36 | WINE ENTHUSIAST | JULY 2012
85
Lucas Vineyards 2010 Dry Chardonnay
(Finger Lakes). Scents of sweet-cream butter,
vanilla and stonefruit are enticing on the nose of
this richly textured, medium-bodied wine. The palate
boasts hints of sweet lemon curd and fresh apple, but
the slightly-sour oak notes can be overwhelming. —A.I.
abv: 12.4% Price: $14
85
Standing Stone 2010 Chardonnay (Finger
Lakes). Hints of lightly toasted oak highlight
bright, fresh apple and lemon flavors on this easy
drinking Chardonnay. Delicately structured with a vibrant,
zesty acidity, it finishes with just a hint of sea
breeze. —A.I.
abv: 11.9% Price: $11
85
Thousand Islands Winery 2010 Chardonnay
(New York). Savory on the nose and
palate, with persistent dill, coconut and vanilla notes,
there’s an abundance of American oak on this wine.
Medium bodied, this is creamy and oaky on the palate,
with a slightly-bitter herb finish. —A.I.
abv: 12% Price: $12
84
Brooklyn Oenology 2009 Chardonnay
(North Fork of Long Island). Scents of fresh
dill, toasted coconut and buttery pastry pair well with
flavors of fresh apple, lemon and sea brine on this fullbodied
Chardonnay. This is savory in style, with a slightly
muted palate. —A.I.
abv: 13.5% Price: $17
NORTH CAROLINA
86
Biltmore 2010 Reserve Chardonnay
(North Carolina). There are enticing hints
of berries and cream on the bouquet. On the palate, a
floral note mingles with apple, lemon and just a dash
of vanilla spice. This is full bodied and substantial in
structure. —A.I.
abv: 13% Price: $15
OHIO
87
Debonné 2009 Chardonnay (Grand River
Valley). Who knew Ohio made such tasty
Chardonnay? Bright and fresh, with scents of green apple,
pear, fresh herbs and just a hint of nut oil. This dry,
medium-bodied wine offsets juicy flavors of nectarines
and apples against a backdrop of sweet cream and white
flowers that lingers on the finish. Drink now. Best Buy.
—A.I.
abv: 12% Price: $11
VIRGINIA
87
Chatham Vineyards 2009 Church Creek
Steel Chardonnay (Virginia). Scents of candied
pineapple, ripe pear and lemon entice on this intensely-fruity
yet refreshing wine. Fermented entirely
in stainless steel, the palate is pristine, with ripe, sweet
stonefruit, tangerine acidity, and just a hint of grapefruit
pith on the finish. —A.I.
abv: 12.5% Price: $15
86
Lovingston 2010 Wahoo White Chardonnay
(Monticello). Scents of fresh lemons,
herbs and white flowers grace this delicately structured,
unoaked Chardonnay. Brisk and tonic on the palate, it’s
a breezy white that’s perfect for summer sipping. —A.I.
abv: 12.2% Price: $15
85
Barrel Oak 2009 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay
(Virginia). Rich and full bodied, this
abounds with pretty flower, sweet peach and pear aromas
mingled with a toasted oak. It’s decidedly oaky on
the palate, with an abundance of smoke, vanilla and coconut
notes. Generous in body, this has nicely extracted
apple and lemon flavors. Drink now. —A.I.
abv: 13.2% Price: $27
85
Barrel Oak 2009 Reserve Chardonnay
(Virginia). Scents of roasted nuts and apples
gain levity on the palate with flavors of lemons and delicate
white flowers. Richly textured, this has a slightlyviscous
but refreshingly-fruity profile. —A.I.
abv: 13.2% Price: $28
85
Veramar 2010 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay
(Shenandoah Valley). While the
nose on this Chardonnay is decidedly savory, with notes
of cooked apples and buttery cheese rinds, the palate is
surprisingly feminine, with pretty orange-blossom and
apple jelly notes. Opulent and fruity, yet refreshinglybalanced
in alcohol and acidity. —A.I.
abv: 13.9% Price: $21
83
Three Fox NV Gatto Bianco Chardonnay-
Viognier (Virginia). Hints of cooked apple
and chalk dust contrast with a slightly confectionery
sweetness on the palate of this simple, apple-y Vwhite
blend. This is medium bodied, with a finish that verges
on sugary. —A.I.
abv: 12% Price: $23
OTHER AMERICA
85
Truro 2010 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay
(America). Darkly charred wood mingles
with scents of coconut, dill and sweet spice on this
heavily-oaked Chardonnay. Hints of smoke and hazelnuts
seep into the palate as well, but serve to highlight
fresh, fruity flavors of pear, lemon and orange rind. This
finishes on a slightly-bitter wood note. —A.I.
abv: 12% Price: $16
CANADA
86
Château des Charmes 2009 St. David’s
Bench Vineyard Chardonnay (St. David’s
Bench). Aromas of fresh figs, strawberries and
dark flowers add mystery and unusual dimension to
this wine. Tangy on the palate, with notes of underripe
stonefruit and vibrant lime-inflected acidity, it’s a refreshingly
different wine that would complement a variety
of fowl or creamy cheeses. Specialty Cellars. —A.I.
abv: 13% Price: $20