Not a producer, but I don’t think Ritchie Vineyard has come up. I suppose tangentially via Aubert but not by name. My favorite Sonoma site for Chardonnay. Great expression. David Ramey does a killer one.
I liked the Ferran not up board – Arista also makes great Chards. Hard to beat Rivers Marie and Rhys. Though I’ve stopped drinking the latter Pinots, I really like the Chardonnay.
Will have eyes checked!
I should add that the best Chardonnay’s in WA for me are Sixto, Woodward Canyon, Cote Bonneville, and Chateau Ste. Michelle (particularly Ethos and Cold Creek Vineyard).
One I don’t see much of but was always a great CA Chard was Varner.
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)
Ahem.
Is that what a 100 Point wine will do?
Can we please add this to the @John_Morris thread on wine critic commentary?
The vineyard I grew up on that our family owned was the source for Mondavi Reserve Pinot Noir (Hyde was the other source). Mondavi indeed is done with their Burgundian production. When people tasted the Reserve Pinot they were always surprised and assumed it would be Woodbridge quality.
Big fan of American Chardonnay. When people say, “I don’t like Chard”, I hand them a glass of Aubert or Ramey and a lightbulb moment happens. In fact our vineyard that had 50 year old Pinot vines was replanted to Chardonnay.
No top 10 list from me but if we are discussing distinctive, interesting and delicious American charonnays, my list includes:
Ceritas - Heintz and Trout Gulch
Arnot-Roberts - Trout Gulch
Ramey - Hyde
Radio-Coteau - Savoy and Heintz
Sandar & Hem - Santa Cruz
Kutch - Trout Gulch
Rhys - Alpine
Tyler and Chanin are making terrific Chardonnay.
Pont Neuf!
Hi John, I am looking to source more than the usual suspects, Australian and French Chardonnays.
Hi KJ, I like the full body thick richness Chards
Thanks for the list…
Ladd Cellars
Winemaker, @Eric_Lundblad is an active participant here. I’ve tried many of the others mentioned in this thread, and Ladd is my favorite.
Honorable mentions to Goodfellow, Rhys, Montelena, Stony Hill, and Forman. Arcadian would be the 1b to Ladd, but they’ve been out of business for awhile, so good luck finding any — if interested, may be worth sending a PM to former owner/winemaker, @Joe_Davis , to inquire.
Depends on the 100 point wine! It’s def a condition precedent to me giving a wine 100 points.
I love the Ridge Monte Bello.
Most of my favs have been listed.
To those, I’d add:
Enfield (love their steely, flinty, bright style)
Littoria
I haven’t seen Liquid Farm listed, when Golden Slope and White Hill are on they are pretty incredible.
I don’t know what production is, but I know it’s small. Both the Monte Bello and the Estate Chardonnay are really good values.
I did not put Littorai on my list because I’ve only had a few bottles of their Chardonnays, but those were excellent.
I’d add generally that I have a far easier time finding California Chardonnays that appeal to both my palate and pocketbook than I do for California Cabernets.
I’d skinny that comment about California Cabs to Napa. There are a lot of places in California that make Cabs that appeal to me at reasonable prices. Napa Valley is not one of them.