The World of White Wine – Chardonnay

Chardonnay is one of the most widely planted grapes and most consumed white wines in the world. It has a reputation as being a “neutral” varietal and so accepts the terroir, or the environmental factors of its growth, and the winemakers influence accordingly. It thrives and does best in cooler climates and is adaptable in many styles, such as a main component in sparkling wines.

BACKGROUND

While Chardonnay came to celebrity in its Burgundy, France, origins, the varietal has expanded all over the world; from the Burgundian-esque climate of Oregon and Washington state, to California and the warmer climates of Australia and South America. Regardless of the location, the Chardonnay profile will be similar across regions.

Depending on the ripeness at time of harvest, flavors and aromas will consist of apple, pear (less ripe) and tropical notes (most ripe) with each region imparting its own distinct style on the wine. The varietal also sees prominent use in Champagne and many other sparkling wines being prized for the freshness and acidity it brings.

Two other terms associated with Chardonnay is oaked and unoaked. The expression relates to the aging of the wine in oak barrels or oak inspiration through other means such as oak chips. Tastes also change, other than the oak flavors, where the unoaked is lighter and crisper with fruitier notes where the oaked is richer with the signature smokier with vanilla and spice aftertastes.

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LOCATIONS

California and Burgundy are the major regions for Chardonnay production as they both feature the climates and soil conducive to Chardonnay and have helped to create and define what makes modern Chardonnay.

Burgundy

The most famous and most prominent region for Chardonnay and its home region. Burgundian Chardonnays are, arguably, the greatest representation of the varietal. The wines can either be oaked or unoaked which varies from region to region.

• Chablis

Typically, an unoaked style but the higher-end examples may see oak aging. Chablis is a very different style of Chardonnay when compared to wines from the Cote D’or. Overall lighter in style without the richness and weight. These wines will be racy with green apple-like acidity. Fresher overall with a more noticeable flinty note, Chablis is regarded as one of the purest expressions of the Chardonnay varietal.

• Cote de Beaune

This region focuses on an oaked style of Chardonnay which produces a richer and weightier style of Chardonnay. Flavors and aromas will feature apple, butter, buttered toast, oak, and some vanilla. These wines are the classic example of the “oaky, buttery” style of Chardonnay. The wines have the richness without the opulence and have ample acidity.

• Maconnais

  • Pouilly-Fuisse – The finest Chardonnays of the Maconnais. Unoaked but richer and fuller bodied with riper fruit but retaining elegance. Flavors and aromas of apple and pear with some minerality.
  • Saint-Veran – Not quite the quality of Pouilly-Fuisse but still well made wines. These wines will be unoaked, dry and relatively full-bodied. The flavors and aromas will feature more floral notes with stone fruits and a hint of a mineral, flinty note in the best examples.
  • Macon-Villages – A lighter and friendlier style of Chardonnay. These wines will have more of a citrus flavor and aroma to them with light florals. Nuttiness can be a prominent component as well with the best example being reminiscent of almonds or hazelnuts.
  • Vire-Clesse – These wines are dry with an austerity similar to Chablis. Lighter overall but expect aromas of acacia flowers with more exotic fruit flavors. Like many other regions in Burgundy, expect a streaky mineral and flinty notes.

• Cote Chalonnaise

  • Rully – These wines are typically oak aged and offer excellent value. The oak aging will add in the complexity and the buttery notes. The wines will be fruitier with apple notes and higher acidity. The region is known for producing the Cremant de Bourgogne sparkling wines.
  • Montagny – Fermentation and aging occurs in oak barrels adding complexity to the wines. More body and higher acidity when compared to other white wines from the Cote Chalonnaise. The limestone soils will impart more noticeable minerality to the wines on top of the oak, butter and apple notes.

California

Oaky and buttery has become the major focus of California Chardonnay. While some producers focus on a more balanced approach, the dominant style has become a thicker, richer, sweeter style of Chardonnay with minimal acidity and the oak and butter on the forefront with the apple, pear and tropical flavors taking a backseat.

• Napa

A warmer climate overall will produce plush, round and lower acidity Chardonnays, though the wines lean out some as you rise into the hills and mountains. Flavors and aromas tropical fruits with a creamy butteriness. Secondary characteristics will be a vanilla, toasty or smokier oak with some stony minerality and a touch of sweetness.

• Sonoma

Sonoma Coast, Sonoma Mountains and the Russian River Valley are the major Chardonnay regions in Sonoma County. Cooler regions mean wines that will have higher acidity when compared to Napa Valley. While these wines can be full-bodied, they will not be as plush as Napa Valley Chardonnays but will feature the classic flavors and aromas of apples and pears with the oak and the butter being prevalent.

• Carneros

Carneros is a unique region because it straddles both Napa and Sonoma. One of the coolest wine regions in California, it produces crisp, buttery Chardonnays with prominent tropical fruit flavors and aromas. The cooler climate will give these Chardonnays higher acidity. Carneros Chardonnays are typically the most elegant and balanced than most other California Chardonnays.

California also produces unoaked Chardonnay, though it’s not as large of a focus. Their unoaked Chardonnays will be prototypical of the style with dominant apple notes and crisp acidity, ample fruit and some lingering sweetness on the finish.

RECOMMENDATIONS

• Burgundy
  • Chablis
    • Domaine Frances Raveneau
    • William Fevre
    • Pascal Bouchard
    • Rene et Vincent Dauvissat
    • Domaine Cheneveieres
  • Cote de Beaune
    • Domaine de Romanee Conti
    • Domaine Leflaive
    • Patrick Javillier
    • Coche-Dury
  • Maconnais
    • Domaine Leflaive
    • Domaine le Virolys
    • Chateau Fuisse
    • Louis Jadot
    • Bouchard Pere et Fils
  • Cote Chalonnaise
    • Louis Latour
    • Chateau de Chamirey
    • Au Pied du Mont Chauve
    • Joseph Drouhin
• California
  • Napa Valley
    • Chappellet
    • Titus
    • Mayacamas Vineyard
    • Monticello Vineyards
    • Moone Tsai
    • Kongsgaard
    • Chateau Montelena
  • Sonoma County
    • Bevan Cellars
    • Kistler
    • La Crema
    • River Road/Ron Rubin
    • Chalk Hill
    • Sonoma-Cutrer
    • DuMol
    • Sonoma Loeb
  • Carneros
    • Baldacci (Napa Side)
    • Lloyd (Napa + Sonoma)
    • Sonoma Loeb (Sonoma Side)
    • Rombauer (Napa Side)
    • Truchard (Napa Side)

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