10 Champion Chardonnays

93/100 Arrowood Chardonnay Cuvée Michel Berthoud 2001
Sonoma County, California, United States
The first Berthoud label was made in 1992 and today remains a selection of fruit from Arrowood's major growers in Carneros and the Russian River. This sophisticated chardonnay shows some match head with heightened barrel and fruit aromas. Floral, honey, lees and river rock notes make up its serious flavours. As we said last time this is delicious New-Age California Burgundy but don't tell EU officials? It's designed to age 5 to 6 year before reaching its peak.
Tasted: 2003-05-27 by AG
Prices: BC $37.50 Private Wine Shops
UPC: 009385109001
Producer: Arrowood Vineyards & Winery
Distributor: Grady Wine Marketing

93/100 Benziger Chardonnay Reserve 2000
Carneros, Sonoma County, California, United States
Benziger chardonnay vines are getting old (26 years average age) and that's good news for wine lovers. Look for buttery, vanilla, spicy lees flavours mixed with mango, tangerine and floral, chalky, melon highlights. The textures are rich and round but elegant on the palate. More chalky, mineral, citrus pineapple, flavours streaked the toasted vanilla finish. Fresh, delicate and full of finesse.
Tasted: 2003-03-10 by AG-ST
Prices: BC $53.50 Speculative - Winspeer
CSPC: 541300
Producer: Benziger Family Winery
Distributor: Winspeer International Group Ltd.

93/100 Byron Chardonnay Sierra Madre Vineyard 1999
Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara County, Central Coast, California, United States
The Sierra Madre vineyard is a further 10 kilometres west of the Byron vineyard making it one of California's coolest vineyard sites. Look for intense ripe apple, honey, nectarine and orange aromas with butter and spicy lees. Rich, round and elegant with a slightly oily texture but great acidity and balance. Buttery, spicy lees, mineral and mango flavours are completed by a long, intense citrus creamy finish. Very Santa Barbara.
Tasted: 2003-01-29 by AG-ST
Prices: BC $55.95 Speculative - Maxxium
Producer: Byron Vineyard and Winery
Distributor: Grady Wine Marketing

93/100 Foley Chardonnay 2000
Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara County, Central Coast, California, United States
Huge ripe mango/creamsicle nose with streaks of honeyed lees. Wow, big rich sweet fruit entry with more creamy pear/apple fruit all with fine acidity and elegance. Less fat than you might think based on the nose and loaded with creamy lees and mango flavours. Where's the lobster.
Tasted: 2003-07-17 by AG-ST
Prices: AB $49.95 Fine Wine Boutiques; BC $55.95 Speculative - Winspeer
UPC: 645600000113
Producer: Foley Estates Vineyard
Distributor: Winspeer International Group Ltd.

93/100 Hartford Court Chardonnay Seascape Vineyard 1999
Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California, United States
Fog seldom leaves this coastal vineyard that is one of the coolest and further west in California. Some of the fruit was picked as late as November 16. The colour is a dark "grand cru" yellow with lots of smoky Burgundian fruit. The flavours are a mix of nutty, citrus, orange and pear fruit with a personality Don Hartford describes as extreme yet subtle. We agree. What a fabulous bottle of chardonnay.
Tasted: 2003-02-16 by AG
Prices: BC $95.00 Speculative - Vinterra Wine Merchants
Producer: Hartford Family Wines
Distributor: Vinterra Wine Merchants

92/100 Penfolds Chardonnay Yattarna 2000
Adelaide Plains, South Australia, Australia
The search for a "white" Grange began in 1992 with total company support something which couldn't be said at the time Max Schubert was working to develop the original Grange Shiraz in the early 1950s. This is the fifth release since the original 1995 and it is a good one. The fruit originates from 100 per cent cool climate sites at Tumbarumba and Adelaide Hills. Peach, fresh cut apple and citrus mark the nose and palate of this 100 per cent barrel fermented chardonnay that also goes through 100 per cent malolactic fermentation. It has elegance length, intensity, creamy fruit and complexity like no other Oz chardonnay.
Tasted: 2003-06-11 by AG-ST
Prices: AB $72.00 Fine Wine Boutiques; BC $84.95 Specialty; ON $89.00; QC $89.50
CSPC: 717512
Producer: Penfolds
Distributor: Southcorp Wines Canada

92/100 Catena Chardonnay Agrelo Vineyards 2001
Mendoza, Argentina
This is a delicious chardonnay that is 100 per cent barrel fermented with wild yeast. The long 50 day fermentation and sur lie ageing and stirring gives it a wonderful creamy mouthfeel. Pear and toasted oak dominate the flavours but it's all in balance. Sonoma-like chardonnay from Mendoza at a very affordable price.
Tasted: 2003-05-20 by AG
Prices: BC $27.40 Speculative - Calibrium
CSPC: 427856;   UPC: 7794450025029
Producer: Bodega Catena Zapata
Distributor: Calibrium
 
92/100 Cambria Chardonnay Bench Break Vineyard 2000
Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara County, Central Coast, California, United States
Very attractive creamy vanilla, smoky lees, mineral/slate, citrus rind, and apple aromas. Dry, somewhat tight palate with more mineral, buttery lees, citrus and baked apple flavours. Round and a touch oily with a dry mango, smoky finish. Long lean and very sophisticated. This will need a year or two more to be fully developed.
Tasted: 2003-02-17 by AG-ST
Prices: BC $48.00 Speculative - Vinterra Wines
Producer: Cambria Winery & Vineyard
Distributor: Vinterra Wine Merchants

92/100 Hartford Court Chardonnay Laura's Vineyard 2000
Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California, United States
Laura's Vineyard is a multi-vineyard blend of heritage clone chardonnays from the Sonoma Ridges and Green Valley on the Sonoma Coast. Some provide floral components; other texture. Look for an open buttery rich chardonnay with wonderful balance. There are nutty, mineral aspects mixed with pear and vanilla that makes this a delicious drop of white wine. Solid rich, long and persistent.
Tasted: 2003-02-16 by AG
Prices: BC $100.00 Speculative - Vinterra Wine Merchants
Producer: Hartford Family Wines
Distributor: Vinterra Wine Merchants