Attributes:

Stone Cellars

California, United States

Chardonnay

12 oz

2002: WineSpectator Rating: 87

floral

citrus, nutmeg, pear, spicy

ripe

2001: WineSpectator Rating: 85

honeydew, lime, melon, pear

2000: WineSpectator Rating: 84

bright

lemon, pear, spice, toasty oak, vanilla

2000: Tastings Rating: 83

medium-bodied

butter, melon, smoke

ripe

2000: Tastings Rating: 83

soft

medium-bodied

sweet

1995: WineSpectator Rating: 83

fresh

1994: Tastings Rating: 85

medium body

Food Matches:

(shar dohn nay)—This noble grape’s reputation was established in France, particularly in the Burgundy region, and the highly prized Chardonnay wines from Chablis, Mâcon, Mersault, and Pouilly-Fuissé are imitated by winemakers around the world. Generally an oaked wine (whether from expensive oak barrels or a quick soak in oak chips), its fruity aromas and flavors range from apple in the cooler regions to tropical fruits such a pineapple in the warmer regions. It can also display subtle earthy aromas, such as mushroom or minerals. It has a medium to high acidity and is generally full-bodied. Classical Chardonnay wines are dry. Chardonnay is also an important grape in the Champagne district where it's picked before fully ripe and while it still has high acid and understated fruit flavors—the perfect combination for champagne. California has adopted this grape with a fervor and there are some 200 wineries producing Chardonnay wines in other parts of the United States. Chardonnay has also seen a tremendous planting surge in Australia, and new vineyards are being planted in Italy, Lebanon, New Zealand, Spain, and South Africa.

California produces the majority of wine made in the United States. Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel and Pinot Noir dominate the wine production in California, but many other varietials thrive in the California climate. Many fine wines are produced in California using Mediterranean grapes.

Attributes:

Guenoc

Lake County, United States

Chardonnay

750 ML

2005: CGCW Rating: 86

fresh

2004: CGCW Rating: 84

clean

full-bodied, light

2004: CGCW Rating: 84

light

fruity

2002: WineSpectator Rating: 82

tart

2002: CGCW Rating: 86

simple

pleasant

bitter, grapefruit

2001: Tastings Rating: 86

fat, low acidity

full-bodied

rich

pineapple, toasty oak

2001: CGCW Rating: 85

light

concentrated, ripe

2000: Tastings Rating: 86

rich

Food Matches:

(shar dohn nay)—This noble grape’s reputation was established in France, particularly in the Burgundy region, and the highly prized Chardonnay wines from Chablis, Mâcon, Mersault, and Pouilly-Fuissé are imitated by winemakers around the world. Generally an oaked wine (whether from expensive oak barrels or a quick soak in oak chips), its fruity aromas and flavors range from apple in the cooler regions to tropical fruits such a pineapple in the warmer regions. It can also display subtle earthy aromas, such as mushroom or minerals. It has a medium to high acidity and is generally full-bodied. Classical Chardonnay wines are dry. Chardonnay is also an important grape in the Champagne district where it's picked before fully ripe and while it still has high acid and understated fruit flavors—the perfect combination for champagne. California has adopted this grape with a fervor and there are some 200 wineries producing Chardonnay wines in other parts of the United States. Chardonnay has also seen a tremendous planting surge in Australia, and new vineyards are being planted in Italy, Lebanon, New Zealand, Spain, and South Africa.

Lake County is one of the smaller inland wine regions in California. Surrounded to the west by Mendocino and Sonoma Counties, and to the south by Napa Valley, Lake County's small concentration of vineyards lie in the Clear Lake AVA. The vineyard's here are nestled between steep hills to the west the lake shore. Main varieties grown in this area are Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel.

Attributes:

Freemark Abbey

Rutherford, United States

Chardonnay

750 ML

2004: WineSpectator Rating: 85

floral

citrus, earthy, flinty, herbal, pear, sage

2003: WineEnthusiast Rating: 90

bitter, oak

2003: WineSpectator Rating: 85

2001: WineSpectator Rating: 81

tangy

2001: WineEnthusiast Rating: 87

lean

pleasant

ripe fruit, vanilla

2000: WineSpectator Rating: 86

medium-weight

1999: WineSpectator Rating: 87

clean, crisp

1999: Tastings Rating: 88

bright, soft

full-bodied

citrus, earthy, lemon, tangerine

Food Matches:

(shar dohn nay)—This noble grape’s reputation was established in France, particularly in the Burgundy region, and the highly prized Chardonnay wines from Chablis, Mâcon, Mersault, and Pouilly-Fuissé are imitated by winemakers around the world. Generally an oaked wine (whether from expensive oak barrels or a quick soak in oak chips), its fruity aromas and flavors range from apple in the cooler regions to tropical fruits such a pineapple in the warmer regions. It can also display subtle earthy aromas, such as mushroom or minerals. It has a medium to high acidity and is generally full-bodied. Classical Chardonnay wines are dry. Chardonnay is also an important grape in the Champagne district where it's picked before fully ripe and while it still has high acid and understated fruit flavors—the perfect combination for champagne. California has adopted this grape with a fervor and there are some 200 wineries producing Chardonnay wines in other parts of the United States. Chardonnay has also seen a tremendous planting surge in Australia, and new vineyards are being planted in Italy, Lebanon, New Zealand, Spain, and South Africa.

The region of Rutherford is a large alluvial fan north of Oakville that spreads north and south in the middle of Napa Valley, CA. This sloping mass of sediments deposited by the river gave birth to some of the most famous and historic wineries in Napa. Composed of gravelly, sandy clay loam soil, in recent years you can't hear much about Rutherford without the fraise "Rutherford Dust", most likely do to the warm growing temperatures. Rutherford warm weather is well suited for the Cabernet Sauvignon which is the main wine of the region.