Top 10 : Chardonnay

By: Treve Ring & Anthony Gismondi

Yes, we are talking about Chardonnay again

Top Ten

Yes, I know.

We've done Top 10s on chardonnay a few times: BC Chard, Cool Climate Chard, NZ Chard just within the last 24 months. But I'm not going to stop. Chardonnay is, quite simply, the best grape ever. It's not just me waxing poetic for this historic Burguncy-borne grape. Chardonnay is one of the most widely planted grapes, with a reported 210,000 ha, and appearance in every wine growing region on the globe. It is second only to workhorse airén in white plantings, and fifth for all grapes overall. It is equally suited for riveting sparkling wines, through the spectrum to powerful, rich, ageworthy cellar treasures. The grape itself is quite neutral, allowing it to be both a terroir-transmitter, and / or a blank canvas for winemakers. Fortunately, all styles have their place and time, and the wines selected for this week's Top 10 (all tasted in 2018) showcase that, with great diversity of style, region, and price. One thing they all share, however, is their distinguished lineage and longevity, plus straight up drinking deliciousness now.

*photo is Chablis vineyards in late October

92/100Drouhin Vaudon Chablis Premier Cru Vaillons 2015Chablis, Burgundy, France

92/100Greywacke Chardonnay 2015Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand

91/100Tormaresca Pietrabianca Castel del Monte Chardonnay 2016Puglia, Italy

95/100Catena Zapata Adrianna Vineyard White Bones Chardonnay 2015Gualtallary, Tupungato, Central Region, Mendoza, Argentina

90/100Little Farm New-ish Oak Chardonnay 2016Cawston, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, Canada

92/100Champagne Larmandier-Bernier Latitude Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs N/VChampagne, France

93/100Shaw and Smith Chardonnay M3 Vineyard 2015Adelaide Hills, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

92/100CedarCreek Platinum Block 5 Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2016Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

92/100Haywire Chardonnay Secrest Mountain Vineyard 2017Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

92/100Meyer Family Vineyards Chardonnay McLean Creek Road Vineyard 2016Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

91/100Hidden Bench Estate Chardonnay Beamsville Bench 2014Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

91/100La Crema Kelli Ann Vineyard Chardonnay 2015Russian River, Sonoma County, California, United States

Written By:

Treve Ring & Anthony Gismondi

Every week Treve Ring and Anthony Gismondi collaborate on our Top Ten list, released on Thursday morning, often with a timely theme. If you count carefully the list will more than likely exceed ten names but only because we believe if any wine is tied by a score that makes our list it should be included. We know many of you are wine savvy and can do your own sleuthing to locate our weekly picks but for those who asked: BCLS means it is sold in government retail stores; when we say private wine shops we mean it could be in any private wine shop or liquor retail store (LRS); winery direct means check with the winery online. If it’s not sold in BC we usually try and give you a suggested retail price. Prices change hourly in BC – the price we post is what we are given at publication.