Ultra Cool Chardonnay

94/100 Domaine Bouchard Père & Fils Chevalier Montrachet Grand Cru 2004
Chevalier-Montrachet, Côte de Beaune, Côte d'Or, Burgundy, France
Floral, honey, smoky, mineral, vanilla, citrus, waxy, lees, spicy, peach skin nose with a touch of butterscotch. Dry, elegant, tight, fresh acidity but fine finesse. More mineral, green apple, citrus flavours mixed with butterscotch, lime, peach skin and nutty lees notes with spicy, waxy, honey, vanilla flavours on the finish. Very bright acidity but great long finish with good intensity. Needs time, perhaps 3-10 years. Very fine.
Tasted: 2007-01-14 by ST
Prices: BC $259.00 (750 ml) speculative listing - Grady Wine Marketing
Producer: Bouchard Père & Fils
Distributor: Boisset America; Grady Wine Marketing

94/100 Louis Latour Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru 2005
Aloxe-Corton, Côte de Beaune, Côte d'Or, Burgundy, France
Corton-Charlemagne sits on the hillside of Corton pitched in a south-easterly direction to capture the maximum exposure to the sun and generally is harvested as late as possible to guarantee maximum ripeness. Big white floral, spicy, citrus, quince, baked apple and melon aromas. Rich, ripe, fat and concentrated with good acidity balance. Intense apple, spicy lees, butter, vanilla, melon, nutty, quince flavours. Full, long, ripe and structured. One of their finest in many years. Buy cellar and enjoy for years to come.
Tasted: 2007-03-18 by AG
Prices: BC $149.95 (750 ml) specialty listing
CSPC: 514653;   UPC: 00026861141546
Producer: Maison Louis Latour
Distributor: Maxxium Canada (Vancouver)

92/100 Domaine Christian Moreau Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos 2004
Chablis, Burgundy, France
Floral, lemon, green melon, light garlic lees, seashell, green apple, pear nose with a touch of butter and vanilla. Round, fresh, delicate but full and juicy with green apple, pear, lemon, flint, floral, spicy butter flavours. Delicate with a vanilla, apple skin, citrus finish. Needs 1-2 years more to shine or decant now to open up.
Tasted: 2006-11-22 by AG-ST
Prices: AB $52.50 (750 ml) fine wine boutiques; BC $59.99 (750 ml) specialty listing
CSPC: 116533;   UPC: 089744423672
Producer: Domaine Christian Moreau
Distributor: Authentic Wine and Spirits Merchants

91/100 Benziger Chardonnay Los Carneros 2004
Carneros, Sonoma County, California, United States
This is a gorgeous wine the Benzigers claim is farmed for flavour. Love the creamy, spicy lees baked apple nose with the honey and vanilla undertones. The entry is fresh and lively the flavours an enticing mix of clove, citrus, red apple and butterscotch. Delicious California chardonnay that is ready to drink.
Tasted: 2006-12-12 by AG-ST
Prices: AB $23.95 (750 ml) fine wine boutiques; BC $26.87 (750 ml) specialty listing
CSPC: 256388;   UPC: 7857774000219
Producer: Benziger Family Winery
Distributor: Lifford Wine Agency; Winspeer International Group Ltd. 
 
90/100 Shaw and Smith Chardonnay M3 Vineyard 2004
Adelaide Hills, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide (including Mt Lofty Ranges, Fleurieu and Barossa, South Australia, Australia
The Shaw and Smith Chardonnay M3 Vineyard 2004, takes it name from the three partners in the vineyard: brothers Michael and Matthew Hill Smith along with cousin and winemaker Martin Shaw. The latest M3 is the fourth vintage to shift away from the traditional, overblown Oz style chardonnay to a more Burgundian demeanour. Look for a mix of spicy lees, vanilla, mineral and citrus aromas with a green apple/nectarine skin, creamy vanilla, spicy, honey, and nutty finish. A tight, restrained, food-friendly chardonnay.
Tasted: 2007-02-22 by AG-ST
Prices: AB $36.95 (750 ml) fine wine shops; BC $44.95 (750 ml) specialty listing
CSPC: 068338;   UPC: 9316770010127
Producer: Shaw & Smith
Distributor: Lifford Wine Agency; Winspeer International Group Ltd.

90/100 Martinborough Vineyard Chardonnay Martinborough Terrace 2004
Martinborough, Wairarapa, North Island, New Zealand
Toasty, nutty, butter, floral, honey, baked apple aromas. Round, fresh, elegant palate but slightly oily with nutty, spicy, honey, butter, baked apple and pear flavours. Finish is delicate with a waxy, oaky vanilla, lees streak. Not a big style wine although there is ample use of oak. Drink now and over the next year or so.
Tasted: 2007-05-19 by AG-ST
Prices: BC $50.00 (750 ml) Estimated BC Retail
UPC: 9418102007048
Producer: Martinborough Vineyard Ltd
Distributor: Aotearoa Food and Wine Ltd.; Mark Anthony Wine Merchants
 
89/100 Heggies Vineyard Chardonnay 2005
Eden Valley, South Australia, Australia
Citrus, spicy lees, green apple, vanilla, grassy aromas. Fresh, elegant, crisp palate with honey, green apple, citrus, light vanilla, spicy lees, slightly toasty flavours. Good finesse and balance and good value.
Tasted: 2007-04-12 by AG
Prices: AB $21.25 (750 ml) fine wine shops; BC $28.07 (750 ml) specialty listing; QC $23.65 (750 ml)
CSPC: 536235;   UPC: 09311789018041
Producer: Heggies Vineyard / Smith & Son Pty Ltd
Distributor: Charton-Hobbs; Negociants International

88/100 Ruffino Libaio Chardonnay 2005
Tuscany, Italy
Libaio was always an appealing wine thanks to its fresh lively palate. But the latest edition of this mostly chardonnay, with a dollop of pinot grigio, hits all the right notes with modern chardonnay drinkers. With no wood and super fresh, bright fruit with light pear and citrus notes make this a delicious go-to summer sipper that should be in everybody's refrigerator. This year, the 2005 is finished (for the first time) under a new Stelvin screwcap suitably coloured burnt Siena that should make it easy to spot on shelves. Great value in a versatile patio or should I say piazza wine.
Tasted: 2007-05-08 by AG
Prices: BC $15.99 (750 ml); QC $14.95 (750 ml)
CSPC: 211441;   UPC: 08001660134755
Producer: Tenimenti Ruffino
Distributor: Charton-Hobbs
 
88/100 Bonterra Vineyards Chardonnay 2005
Mendocino County, California, United States
Bonterra the all organic chardonnay from Mendocino County just gets better and the price keeps dropping - it's a rare combination. Love the fresh leesy, citrus, baked apple nose and the cool mineral threads that run throughout. Fresh soft and dry with soft, buttery, nutty, citrus, frit flavours. Modern California chardonnay suitable to a wide variety of foods.
Tasted: 2007-02-06 by AG
Prices: AB $20.00 (750 ml) fine wine boutiques; BC $19.99 (750 ml) specialty listing; ON $19.95 (750 ml) Vintages Essentials Collection; QC $20.05 (750 ml)
CSPC: 342436;   UPC: 082896780419
Producer: Bonterra Vineyards
Distributor: Charton-Hobbs
 
87/100 Tormaresca Chardonnay 2005
Apulia, Italy
Tormaresca chardonnay blends fruit from both key Tormaresca estates: Bocca di Lupo in Murgia, and Masseria Maime in Salento. It's partially barrel fermented which accounts for its buttery peach aromas and flavours, but you can also taste the minerals and the nearby sea influence on the nose and palate. A soft, fresh, ripe apple/citrus chardonnay with an elegant demeanour that reflects its European origins in flavour and style. Try with sole or other light, simply prepared fish dishes.
Tasted: 2007-01-22 by AG
Prices: AB $12.99 (750 ml) private wine shop; BC $13.99 (750 ml) specialty listing; SK $14.19 (750 ml)
CSPC: 612028;   UPC: 8026530000015
Producer: Tormaresca
Distributor: Mark Anthony Wine Merchants