My first post, please be kind
An American living in Sydney Australia. My wine journey began down-under, and I’d love to hear the members’ opinions on the top 10 American Chardonnays.
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Wineries that I have enjoyed for decades
Aubert
Peter Michael
Kistler
Kongsgaard
New one:
Morgen Long
Great Whites:
Terre et Sang
Andremily
Sine Qua Non
Fingers Crossed
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Kutch Trout Gulch Vineyard
Ramey Hyde Vineyard
Ramey Rochioli Vineyard
Massican Hyde Vineyard
Those are a few I would eagerly nominate.
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I can’t offer 10. But we went through a bunch of Jamie Kutch’s Chards yesterday. In fact, I am restasting them yet again but just some tiny pours tonight from what we opened yesterday.
For me, what makes Chardonnay great is acid, weight and minerality, with very smart use of new wood, i.e., just a little goes a long way for me. @Brian.W, try these perhaps if you find the opportunity. His Chardonnay wines need to be on this list. www.kutchwines.com. The two Chard sites are called Salt Point and Trout Gulch.
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I’ve only tasted a couple of hundred and there are almost certainly over 10,000. I am also favoring those that I know have been around for a long time and whose wines live for a long time.
Mount Eden (I conducted a 5 decade charity tasting last year).
Ridge Monte Bello (not many people know this exists)
Aubert (varies by vintage and site)
Kongsgaard
Hanzell
Montelena
Mayacamas
Chalone
Stony Hill
Trout Gulch (depends on producer and vintage)
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This is an excellent list, Dan. I might swap out either Chalone or Hanzell for Peter Michael, just to have something a little more rich on the list, but you have named many of our favorites.
Brian, what is the criteria?
I would agree with many of the Chards that have already been mentioned, I would add
Mount Eden Estate
Rhys Alpine and Horseshoe
Walter Scott X Novo
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Mount Eden Chardonnay Reserve
Walter Scott X-Novo and Morgen Long X-Omni (only a handful of vintages so far but they’re there)
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Occidental makes Chardonnay?? I thought that was forbidden.
From what I have tasted…producers vs. wines.
Marcassin
Walter Scott
Goodfellow
Kongsgaard
ABC
Hudson Vineyards
Rivers Marie Platt
Peter Michael
Aubert
Ramey
Hanzell
Have to keep thinking, never had Morgen Long tho.
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Hard to give an opinion on top 10 without knowing what kind of Chardonnay you like. I personally like all styles for different occasions and meals, so below is a list that dabbles across the spectrum:
Rhys Horsehoe and Alpine
Mount Eden Santa Cruz Estate
Ceritas Heintz and.Trout Gulch
Walter Scott XNovo and Freedom Hill
Cameron Clos Electrique and Abbey Ridge
Rivers-Marie Platt and B.Thieriot
Wayfarer Wayfarer Estate
Aubert Lauren and Eastside
Kongsgaard Tbe Judge
Marcassin Chardonnay
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Hanzell is a really good add.
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For my tastes…
Oregon:
Walter Scott
Morgen Long
Goodfellow
Evening Land
Violin
California:
Kongsgaard
Montelena
Rivers Marie
Sandhi
Liquid Farm
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I do not believe I will find any of those great Chardonnays in OZ…but I at least now I have a starting point…
Are our chardonnay more full body or are they on the softer side.
I love the list!
Plus I am also point Australian in a new direction…
This is greatly appreciated!!!
Sandhi is another great add.
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The is a generalization, but the Chardonnays from California will tend toward the full body side, while the ones from Oregon will be leaner.
Au Bon Climat .
Just opened a2002 … fantastic
Mt Eden
Ramey
Kistler
Talley
I don’t know Littorai that well , but has anyone mentioned them?
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big fan of both hirsch and enfield in cali, cameron and eyrie in oregon.
Is Cali Chardonnay better than Oregon