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Wine of the day- Chardonnay

By Darryl Beeson

Chardonnay is the white wine that most people order. Be it by the glass, or by the bottle, the following Chardonnays from both France and The New World tend to show well. The best are well designed to combine with food very successfully. The following are listed in the order of tasting order, not by preference.

Kendall Jackson "Grand Reserve" Chardonnay, 2004
Price $19             
Rating 92
Rich, chewy flavors of mango, cashew butter, citrus and ample but balanced oak make this Chardonnay very desirable. The mix of the fruit sourcing is 51.4% Monterey County, 48.6% Santa Barbara County. Learn more at www.kj.com.

Domaine Christian Moreau Pere & Fils Chablis Vaillon, 2003
Price $45                    
Rating 92
The flavors are classic to Chablis with flint, citrus along with quince and more mineral in the long length. Christian Moreau owns 4 hectares in the Vaillon cru. The vineyards are situated close to Chablis, on the left bank of the Serein River, and benefit from an excellent southwest exposure.

Vincent Pouilly-Fuisse "Propriete Marie-Antoinette Vincent" Macon 2003
Price $29                    
Rating 92
The firm of Marcel Vincent & Fils, producer of Chateau Fuisse, was founded in 1864. Current winemaker Jean-Jacques Vincent, great-grandson of the founder, is as alert to modern innovations as he is loyal to proven traditional methods.

Olivier Leflaive Puligny Montrachet "Pucelles" 2004
Price $95                    
Rating 96
The sip is elegant with lemon curd, quince and mineral notes throughout. The length is outstanding and complex. The importer is Frederick Wildman and Sons. Visit www.frederickwildman.com.

Olivier Leflaive Meursault 2003
Price $29                    
Rating 93
The sip is complex with grapefruit, lemon zest, mineral and more within the long length. There are notes of butter and oats in the finish, classic to Meursault.

San Saba Chardonnay, Monterey
Price $18.95               
Rating 87
The wine is refreshing with hints of citrus. "San Saba Chardonnay has creamy tropical notes of mango, papaya, and coconut with a hint of cinnamon and vanilla," says Sabrine Rodems, San Saba winemaker. Go to www.sansaba.com.

Fall Creek Reserve Chardonnay, Texas 2004
Price $19                    
Rating 89
The wine is light and refreshing. There are pleasing elements of delicate citrus and herb. There are soft hints of pear and apple.

Gallo Family Vineyards Laguna Ranch Chardonnay, Russian River 2004
Price $20                    
Rating 94
The Laguna Vineyard Chardonnay displays intense aromas and flavors of peach, pear, apple, and melon. Accentuated by the creaminess from sur lie aging and the sweet vanilla and toasty characteristics from oak barrels, this wine is deliciously complex with a long, lingering finish. An elegant complement to grilled fish, poultry, and light pastas.

Meridian Chardonnay, Santa Barbara County 2004
Price $10                    
Rating 88
The nose and flavors are exotic with things like floral, tropical melon, vanilla, zesty brown spice, all within interesting tropical aromas. There are notes of toasted almond and roasted hazel nut in the complex length. Pineapple, complex oak, lime and grapefruit, lined in oak, lead the way in the good sip. Go to www.meridianvineyards.com.

Beaulieu Vineyard Chardonnay, Napa 2004
Price $17.99               
Rating 91
This is a classic version of Chardonnay. Imagine fresh, crsip fruit like apple and pear. Then bright citrus. These white wines sing with food. Learn more at www.diageowines.com.

Acacia Chardonnay, Carneros 2004
Price $22                    
Rating 92
The nose is concentrated with toasty oak and then delicate pear follows. The sip is rich with more toasty oak, pear nectar, lemon custard, tropical fruit like kiwi and delicate mineral shows in the long finish. More to discover is at www.acaciavineyard.com.

Banrock Station Chardonnay, South Eastern Australia 2004
Price $10.99 (1.5 liter)            
Rating 87
The nose is dominated by oak, spice and some apple in back. The sip leads with oak and apple, with pear and a hint of brown spice. The price is right. The warm climate is ideal for producing easy drinking, rich and full flavored Australian wines.

Chateau St. Jean Chardonnay, Sonoma County 2004
Price $14                    
Rating 86
The nose is rich with butter, pear, apple and oak/brown spice. There are flavors apple and huge oak, to this reviewer, out of balance. There are nice aspects of spice and butter hidden within.

Visit www.chateaustjean.com.

Crichton Hall Chardonnay, Napa 2002
Price $28                    
Rating 93
This is an elegant and complex Chardonnay, showing much restraint for a California producer. The flavors are crisp and subtle, in a Burgundian fashion.

Echelon Vineyards Chardonnay, Central Coast 2003
Price $10                    
Rating 86
The nose is complex with pear and tropical melon. Moderate acidity and obvious oak contribute to the flavor profile of tree fruit and citrus blossom. This white wine, though affordable, is still a complex match with complex foods such as exotic pasta with seafood or lightly grilled fish. At this price, it works as an impressive apertif.

Greg Norman Chardonnay, Santa Barbara 2004
Price $12                    
Rating 89
The nose is filled with aromas of pop corn and oak. The sip follows with buttery pop corn flavors, subtle white fruit and soft oak in the long finish. Learn more at www.shark.com.

King Fish Chardonnay, California 2003
Price $5.99                 
Rating 83
Simple, pleasing aromas and flavors of apple, pear, ripe melon. The price is certainly right. The white is little overly ripe and could have been more balanced with a bit of citrus crispness. Another wine with an animal for a name, shown on the label in a way to look like it is Australian. Whatever. Visit their website at www.kingfishwine.com.

Lake Sonoma Winery Chardonnay, Russian River 2004
Price $16                    
Rating 93
The sip is bright, almost breath-taking with perfect balance. Tree fruit meets complex, but subtle, oak, the there is melting butter. This is what Chardonnay should be, and at a desirable price. Bright citrus keeps the wine crisp.

L'Ecole No. 42 Chardonnay, Columbia Valley
Price $19                    
Rating 91
The style leans more toward Burgundian. The sip leads with ripe tree fruit flavors. Subtle mineral, Asian pear and interesting, tropical fruit, and soft spice are in the long, complex length. Discover more at www.lecole.com.

Napa Ridge Chardonnay, North Coast 2003
Price $10                    
Rating 88
There is subtle citrus in the nose. The sip is complex with apple, hazelnut, spice and citrus in the good length on the palate.

Sterling Chardonnay, Napa 2004
Price $16.99               
Rating 92
The nose is well balanced with oak, butter and pear. The sip is complex with again with pear, then apple, citrus blossom, all this balanced by oak and butter. The length is good on the palate. Learn more at www.DiageoWines.com.

ZD Chardonnay, California 2004
Price $32                    
Rating 96
The aromas begin with tropical fruit, then vanilla andcomplex tree fruit. The sip returns with rich, tropical fruit, then pear and citrus zest. This Chardonnay is about big, balanced flavors. This wine is a velvet hammer. Learn more at www.zdwines.com.

ZD Chardonnay, California 2003
Price $30
Rating 93
Aromas of crisp apple and complex herbal/floral character lead the way, balanced within the presence of oak. The sip is chewy with crisp, ripe apple, pear, mango and toasty hazelnut. The grapes come from some of California's coolest climates. The entire story is at www.zdwines.com.

ZD Reserve Chardonnay, California 2003
Price $50
Rating 95
The nose is crisp and complex. Flavors of apple, vanilla and lots of pear and citrus lead the way. This is one of the most consistent white wines of fantastic quality from California.

Spires "Barossa Valley Estate" Chardonnay, Barossa 2004
Price $12                    
Rating 90
The flavors are prestine and fruit forward with fresh apple and pear. There is the slight influence of oak in the sip. Crisp elements of lime and other citrus appear in the finish, which is long and complex. This is a great food wine with crisp acidity. More details are at www.bve.com.au.

Angoves "Vineyard Select" Chardonnay, Limestone Coast 2005
Price $14                    
Rating 94
The nose is vibrant with crisp apple, citrus firm elements of oak. The sipis concentrated with all of the above mentioned, plus hazelnut and toasted whole wheat bread with citrus marmalade.

Henri Boillot Bourgogne White, 2001
Price $29                    
Rating 94
The nose is bright with citrus and toasted hazelnut. The sip is crisp and complex with lemon, brown butter and lime zest.

Chablis Premier Cru "Les Fourneaux" Chablis 2000
Price $28.99               
Rating 91
The sip is crisp with mineral, tart apple and lemon zest. The flavors are lean and refreshing. Pair this wine with oysters on the half shell, scallops seared in olive oil, or grilled chicken with fresh herbs.

Lulu B. Chardonnay, France 2004
Price $8.99                 
Rating 84
The sip is delicate and pleasing. There are hints of tree fruit throughout, but this white wine could be a bit more crisp for food pairings. Nonetheless, drink this white and enjoy. Discover more, including recipes to pair with this wine, at www.luluBwine.com.

R Collection Chardonnay, Monterey 2004
Price $13                    
Rating 91
The nose of R Collection Chardonnay is filled with scents of green apples, lemon-lime, orange blossoms and poached pears drizzled with honey. The crisp flavors of Granny Smith apples, golden raspberries, lemon peel, and pineapple are balanced with full round flavors of dried apricots and French vanilla. Learn more at www.raymondwine.com.

Hawk Crest Chardonnay, California 2004
Price $12                    
Rating 90
Wine maker Mark Smith has drawn on more than a quarter-century of winemaking experience to weave together a terrific food wine. About two-thirds of the grapes came from vineyards in the heart of San Luis Obispo County. The remainder of the fruit was grown in the Santa Lucia Highlands and Monterey County. These elements come together in a wine that offers both creaminess and good balance.

William Hill Estate Reserve Chardonnay, Napa 2004
Price $27                    
Rating 96
The blend is 100% Chardonnay from the Carneros and Atlas Peak . Note that Atlas Peak Chardonnay, grown high in the eastern mountains of the Valley, develops appealing stone fruit flavors and provides firm structure to the wine. Offering elegant, ripe fruit flavors, along with toasted oak and delicate brown spice derived from French oak barrel aging, the full malolactic fermentation contributes a long nuance of butterscotchand Asian spice.

William Hill Estate Chardonnay, Napa 2004
Price $21                    
Rating 94
This Chardonnay is gently oak-aged and left on the lees, allowing the both the toasty yeast and the fruit to show. Rich, ripe tropical fruit and buttery pear aromas overlay a smooth, cream-like texture,all of this surrounded in bright citrus, such as Meyer lemon and even exotic mango.

Buena Vista Chardonnay, Carneros 2004
Price $19                    
Rating 92
The Chardonnays fromCarneros, characterized by rich apple, pear and tropical, pineapple flavors with crisp acidity. Harvested from their estate vineyards, this Chardonnay is well-balanced. Tropical fruit flavors are integrated with almond and spicy oak nuances. Flavors of ripe yellow apples meld with coconut, pineapple and banana, with a long, nut-like finish.

Three Thieves Unoaked Chardonnay, California 2005
Price $10         (one liter)         
Rating 89
"Three Thieves, made by a trio of innovative vintners -- Joel Gott, Charles Bieler and Roger Scommegna -- who call themselves the liberators of world-class wine," observes Leslie Sbrocco. "The 2005 Three Thieves Unoaked California Chardonnay ($10 for 1 liter) is the kind of sassy, juicy wine you don't need to analyze, just drink." Serve this simple, pleasing white wine with broiled chicken breast with fresh thyme or rosemary under the skin, pasta with garlic and olive oil, or with simple cheese pizza on a thin crust.

Frei Brothers Reserve Chardonnay, Russian River 2004 
Price $20                    
Rating 89
The nose is rich with oak and butter. The sip offers apple, pear, a hint of citrus, hazelnut, vanilla, and other oak influences. The finish is long and crisp. Pair this big white with grilled steak-like fish in a lime butter sauce. Likewise with big, grilled shrimp. Find out more at www.freibrothers.com.

Simi Chardonnay Reserve, Russian River 2004
Price $25                    
Rating 94
With lots of oak, this white wine is powerfully complex. An entire spectrum of fruit flavors and complexities, oak and mineral, open up within the long lasting sip. Serve with flame grilled salmon, herbal infused roast chicken, or with hearty pasta in a lusty cream and cheese sauce.

Louis Jadot Macon-Villages Chardonnay, Burgundy 2005 
Price $11                    
Rating 90
There are ripe fruit flavors of green apple, dried fruit and soft melon. Serve this simple and basic white wine with most seafoods or with pasta salad.

Valley of the Moon Sonoma County Chardonnay, 2005 
Price $16                    
Rating 93
The 2005 Valley of the Moon Sonoma County Chardonnay offers full, complex aromas of nectarine, apple, butter and coconut. Concentrated flavors of nectarine, red apple, vanilla and spice are balanced by generous acidity. Full-bodied yet surprisingly silky in the mouth, the flavors linger in the long, elegant finish.

Kenwood Vineyards Chardonnay, Sonoma 2005
Price $15                    
Rating 93
Fresh apple, pear and tropical fruit aromas backed by hints of vanilla highlight the 2005 Kenwood Vineyards Sonoma County Chardonnay’s appealing style. Polished flavors of red apple, vanilla and spicy oak, with plenty of richness on the palate, lead to a delicately crisp yet lingering finish.

Kenwood Vineyards Reserve Chardonnay, Russian River 2005 
Price $20                    
Rating 94
This concentrated Chardonnay displays powerful aromas of kiwi, pineapple and toasty oak. Again, kiwi, pineapple and citrus dominate the opulent flavors, along with toast and cream accents. The rich flavors are balanced by generous weight and moderate acidity, which both contribute to the wine’s smooth, elegant finish.

Faiveley "Les Villeranges" Rully, Burgundy 2004
Price $23
Rating 88
The sip is light, delicate and not very crisp. Pair this light white with delicate food selections.

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Darryl Beeson is believed to be on an extended work release program from The Betty Ford Clinic. Sometimes he violently rambles about seemingly minor issues. He has been cellar master of The Mansion on Turtle Creek (Dallas) and The Adolphus Hotel (Dallas). He now travels the world looking for great wine, spirit and food discoveries.

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