What is a French style Chardonnay?

Expect these French Chardonnays to be very dry, light-bodied, and minerally with flavors of lime, lemon, starfruit, and subtle notes of spring blossoms and chalk. The other style was made famous by the region of Côte de Beaune in Burgundy and is traditionally oaked.

What region makes the best Chardonnay?

Burgundy
France. The world’s most revered Chardonnays come from Burgundy, the noncontiguous region in eastern France that also produces pricey, prestigious Pinot Noirs known simply as “Burgundy.” Here, Chardonnays go by many names because they’re labeled by geography, not by grape.

What is a good French Chardonnay?

Nine of Our Top Chardonnays from France and California

• Joseph Phelps 2018 Freestone Vineyards Chardonnay (Sonoma Coast); $60, 95 points.
• Gary Farrell 2017 Olivet Lane Vineyard Chardonnay (Russian River Valley); $45, 94 points.
• Albert Bichot 2018 Domaine Long-Depaquit Vaillons Premier Cru (Chablis); $48, 92 points.

Is California Chardonnay dry or sweet?

In general, Chardonnay is a classic dry white wine. As you have learned, a wine’s sweetness level depends on how the winemaker manages the fermentation process. But just because a wine is measurably dry doesn’t mean you can’t detect sweetness.

Are French Chardonnay oaked?

Most unoaked Chardonnay is from cooler climate wine regions like France. Oaked Chardonnays are rich, full-bodied and have additional flavours of vanilla, butter and even caramel from the oak. Many oaked Chardonnays come from warmer climate wine regions.

Is French Chardonnay aged in oak?

Fermenting & Aging Chardonnay in Oak Barrels and Stainless Steel. Older oak only changes Chardonnay’s mouthfeel. If well maintained, winemakers can reuse oak barrels for wine for many years – even decades! Some winemakers combine stainless steel fermentation with new oak barrel aging.

Which Chardonnay is buttery?

Chateau Ste Michelle Indian Wells Chardonnay – Another favorite from a popular wine brand, this Chardonnay has a buttery, creamy texture that melts in your mouth. The butterscotch flavor is balanced by tropical fruit flavors. The wine is aged in American and French Oak barrels.

Where does the best French Chardonnay come from?

Some of France’s best white wines are made from the finest and most used types of Chardonnay grapes in Chablis/Burgundy. Located in mid east France in the Dijon area you will find that Chablis, Meursault and Montrachet are among the best.

What is the most popular Chardonnay wine?

Best Chardonnay Brands

• #1. Chateau St. Michelle Chardonnay.
• #2. Ferrari-Carano Chardonnay.
• #3. J Lohr Riverstone Chardonnay, 2019.
• #4. Katherine’s Vineyard, 2018 Cambria Chardonnay.
• #5. Kendall Jackson Chardonnay.
• #6. Sonoma Coast La Crema Chardonnay.
• #7. River Road Chardonnay Sonoma.
• #8. Bogle Chardonnay.

How do you pick a good Chardonnay?

Seek out Chardonnay wines that are not aged in oak. Look for tasting descriptors that indicate no oak including lean, mineral, fresh, white flowers, and citrus blossom. Most unoaked Chardonnay should be drunk young, although there are several examples (particularly in Chablis) that will age a decade or more.

What does it mean when a Chardonnay is buttery?

“Buttery” can refer to a flavor, smell, texture or some combination of all three, and it’s most commonly associated with Chardonnay. Buttery flavors usually come from diacetyl, an organic compound that’s a natural byproduct of fermentation. But buttery Chardonnays used to be very fashionable, and now much less so.

How can you tell if Chardonnay is oaked?

When reading tasting notes, look for descriptors such as “crisp,” “refreshing” or “vibrant” to suggest unoaked Chardonnays, while oaked wines might be described with “toast” or “vanilla.”