Having a couple folks out for the weekend and they are chard drinkers, which neither my wife or I don’t really drink often. I’m familiar with the higher-end stuff, but since they also manage to put away lots of wine so I need reccos on say, $25-ish bottles. Suggestions?
We have recently enjoyed a 2017 Fevre Champs Royaux Chablis and a 2017 Drouhin St Veran, both were under $20. Fevre Domaine Chablis is a bit more and a bit better than the Champs Royaux IMO.
The wife brought one of these home recently and we both found it undrinkable. Bad bottle possibly but if there was a flaw, it wasn’t one I’m familiar with. Not sure if vintage but think it’s the current one.
For the OP, both Stonestreet and Miner should work and satisfy the cougar juice crowd but I think they run a few dollars above $25.
Many of the suggestions are quite far from what this crowd would want. Anton’s list is solid, as is the Hartford Court rec. I’ll add Mount Eden’s entry level, which should be around the price you’re looking for and is well made for the style. Really, it isn’t worth overthinking this. I’d just go to a decent wine shop and ask for a big, oaky chardonnay.
Agree with all the above, especially ‘it depends’. (Oak or not, full body or not)
‘Chardonnay’ is a very broad church indeed.
Not sure about US pricing but in addition to the above some that should be fairly widely available but here’s a couple more.
In Cali - Sonoma Cutrer Russian River is decent and inexpensive .
South Africa - Hamilton Russell
(Almost) any 2014 Chablis 1er Cru Fevre, Laroch, Brocard (perhaps not the Vau de Vey), Billaud Simon etc
Drouhin-Vaudon Chablis should also be below your price point
Roche de Bellene Saint Romain
Does it HAVE to be Chardonnay? A South African Chenin Blanc might open some eyes (Mullineux old vines for example).
Many years ago the late Greg Walter did this, in a BLIND setup, with 4 or 5 Chard afficionados (he carefully picked them). ALL of them voted 2BC as WOTN. Almost came to a fist fight upon unveiling. So, there is that.