What Is America's Benchmark Chardonnay?

[David_K_o_l_i_n]

One again, depends on how you define “benchmark”, but for YIYO quality over decades, I think I need to keep Montelena towards the top of the list - seldom “great”, but always very good to excellent

[Ken_Koda]

For number of cases sold, defined American Chard as a style, a strange question.

I have to go with either KJ vinters reserve or Rombauer.

[S_L_Clayton]

@Jason Hagen

Regardless of personal preference, Aubert would need to be near the top.

Personally I would throw out

Rhys
Arcadian
St Innocent

No shit? I’ve not had it. Will have to try and source one.

[mdaniel]

Not much of a Chard fan, but now ya’ll have me wanting to try a Mt. Eden.

[G_Williams]

Hanzell?

[Berry_Crawford]

“cougar juice”

[Daniel_Posner]

Aubert is the Benchmark for Montrachet!

Get it right!

As for here, nothing from Long Island, please.

Tough to go against KJ.

[NickWittman]

The Rochioli SVD wines gets my top vote for benchmark chardonnay! Would not argue with the usual suspects however: Marcassin, Peter Michael, Kistler, Kongsgaard, and Aubert . . .

[Glenn_L_e_v_i_n_e]

@G Williams

Hanzell?

+1 for Hanzell Estate.

[M_A_T_T_H_A_R_T_L_E_Y]

For wine geeks or the masses?

If for the masses Rombauer is the benchmark…no doubt in my mind…

[seawayjan]

@Keith Levenberg

Mount Eden

Anyone tried Mountain Winery’s estate series, also made by Patterson?

[Victor_Hong]

Is the bench made of wood?

[Veronica_Castro]

lol Victor.

For the masses, I would say Rombauer, then Cakebread and Far Niente.

For geeks, it’s all over the place.

[C_Grimm]

Beringer PR - it’s oakalicious! Certainly a wooden benchmark.

[Richard_T_r_i_m_p_i]

@Victor Hong

Is the bench made of wood?

Freshly hewn, with a “big stick of butter”:

RT

[Jeff_Leve]

Bill, I am flattered you read and enjoy so many of posts and find them so interesting, you want to share my views with others. Is this a secret bromance thing?

Truthfully, this is a great topic. I like seeing the myriad of views. I think Marcassin is the benchmark California Chardonnay. That is my view. You and others should freely agree or disagree. Although I am curious, how many times have you tasted Marcassin to have an opinion either way?

Marcassin has been making outstanding wines since 1991. Having a track record is important to being a benchmark wine, at least IMO. During that time, Marcassin has for my palate remained remarkably consistent. The wine is produced in a great style with everything in balance. Being on the list and having friends on the list, I am able to taste the wine on a regular basis and compare it with other top California Chardonnay producers.

Interestingly I have served Marcassin blind to numerous French tasters. The majority of them thought the wine was a high quality Burgundy. A very famous master of wine called it a Montrachet. That has nothing to do with the wines level of quality, I am only sharing some fun tid bits of information.

I agree with folks on Aubert Chard. I think the wines are stunning. It’s the only other California Chard I also buy every year. But they do not have a long track record as their debut vintage was 2001. They will be a benchmark wine with more time. I also like Peter Michael, but do not think their wines are as consistent as Aubert or Marcassin. Mt. Eden is another winner and for my palate, it’s a contender for high quality QPR Calif Chard.

I have a question for anyone on this topic. For people who do not find Marcassin to be the benchmark Chard, how often do you taste it, as well as the other top Calif Chards? This question is serious as I think many people get feelings on wines from reading about them or only tasting them once, or at best a few times.

[Paul_L_i_n]

If you are really asking is what America’s benchmark Chardonnay, then I would have to say Rombauer. But if you are asking what is the benchmark American Chardonnay, then I would say Kistler/Aubert/Peter Michael.

[Rick_Smith]

@Jeff Leve

Marcassin has been making outstanding wines since 1991. Having a track record is important to being a benchmark wine, at least IMO.

@Jeff Leve

I agree with folks on Aubert Chard…But they do not have a long track record as their debut vintage was 1991. They will be a benchmark wine with more time.

No real dog in this fight, but how is 1991 good for Marcassin, but apparently not for Aubert?

@Jeff Leve

Interestingly I have served Marcassin blind to numerous French tasters. The majority of them thought the wine was a high quality Burgundy. A very famous master of wine called it a Montrachet.

I thought that Aubert was the Montrachet of California

[M_A_T_T_H_A_R_T_L_E_Y]

@Jeff Leve

Bill, I am flattered you read and enjoy so many of posts and find them so interesting, you want to share my views with others. Is this a secret bromance thing?

Truthfully, this is a great topic. I like seeing the myriad of views. I think Marcassin is the benchmark California Chardonnay. That is my view. You and others should freely agree or disagree. Although I am curious, how many times have you tasted Marcassin to have an opinion either way?

Marcassin has been making outstanding wines since 1991. Having a track record is important to being a benchmark wine, at least IMO. During that time, Marcassin has for my palate remained remarkably consistent. The wine is produced in a great style with everything in balance. Being on the list and having friends on the list, I am able to taste the wine on a regular basis and compare it with other top California Chardonnay producers.

Interestingly I have served Marcassin blind to numerous French tasters. The majority of them thought the wine was a high quality Burgundy. A very famous master of wine called it a Montrachet. That has nothing to do with the wines level of quality, I am only sharing some fun tid bits of information.

I agree with folks on Aubert Chard. I think the wines are stunning. It’s the only other California Chard I also buy every year. But they do not have a long track record as their debut vintage was 1991. They will be a benchmark wine with more time. I also like Peter Michael, but do not think their wines are as consistent as Aubert or Marcassin. Mt. Eden is another winner and for my palate, it’s a contender for high quality QPR Calif Chard.

I have a question for anyone on this topic. For people who do not find Marcassin to be the benchmark Chard, how often do you taste it, as well as the other top Calif Chards? This question is serious as I think many people get feelings on wines from reading about them or only tasting them once, or at best a few times.

So by definition a “benchmark” wine is going to be a wine others measure themselves against…

For the bulk of American Chardonnay producers out there I don’t think they are measuring themselves against Marcassin - or Aubert for that matter. These are wonderful wines but I think the one wine most American Chardonnay producers try to replicate is that of Rombauer…

Rombauer Chardonnay (outside of KJ and Sonoma Cutrer) has got to be the most successful Chardonnay in the United States…

[Jeff_Leve]

@Rick Smith

@Jeff Leve

Marcassin has been making outstanding wines since 1991. Having a track record is important to being a benchmark wine, at least IMO.

@Jeff Leve

I agree with folks on Aubert Chard…But they do not have a long track record as their debut vintage was 1991. They will be a benchmark wine with more time.

No real dog in this fight, but how is 1991 good for Marcassin, but apparently not for Aubert?

Rick… Because 1991 was a typo I just corrected the post. The debut vintage for Aubert is 2001. The reason I open Marcassin more often for friends from France is, they are all very familiar with the wine, it’s high scores, cost and how difficult it is to find. To them it is a special treat.

Note to Matt… Do you really think the point I was making was about which wine was the most successful? I do not want to argue just to argue. My point was about a benchmark level of quality. With that in mind, what do you think is the benchmark Calif Chard?