47 Degrees, Chardonnay, Moldova
47 Degrees, Chardonnay from Moldova is a pretty good example of a decent white wine from Moldova. It’s an off dry Chardonnay that’s soft on the palette with immediate aromas of honey and flavours of pineapple, lemon, honey and an underlying oak layer. It’s the oak I wasn’t a big fan off but saying that I did like it.
At £7 a bottle from Majestic Wines It’s pretty good value.
Patriarche Pere et Fils Bourgogne Chardonnay
Love it or hate Chardonnay, Burgundy does seem to produce better Chardonnay than most other places. This is a competent dry white wine with plenty of acidity and depth of flavour although a little one dimensional. Citrus and apple are in there but it’s a little sharp for me. At £16 a bottle there are better Burgundy Chardonnay’s out there.
Jordan Vineyard, Nine Yards, Chardonnay, 2019, South Africa
South Africa’s Western Cape is an amazing place that does fantastic wines at all levels and although this Nine yards vintage is on the pricier side it’s flaming brilliant.
It’s dry but bold with good acidity and flavours and aromas of peach, citrus, honey with vanilla and oak with hints of green apple and a softness that makes it absolutely delicious.
I would definitely have this with fish or a summer salad with a fresh zingy dressing and enjoy this in the sun. About £30 a bottle is not cheap but you should try this.
Chapel Down, Kits Coty, Chardonnay, 2013, UK
If you think you can’t keep English wine for years before drinking it you’re wrong and this is exactly the bottle to try. Chapel Down make a lot of wine and a million bottles on a year but this kits coty is one of their premier lines.
Even after 8-years it is stunning wine to taste and although it costs over £25 a bottle it’s a must to try anyone that likes white wine. A worthy gold medal winner.
Theres still complexity in this wine with aromas of peach and apple, apricot with flinty under notes and subtle oak and a very long finish.
With summer and sitting out in the garden eating salads and barbecues, talking with friends this is got to be one to put on the menu.
Chardonnay, Yarra Valley, Australia
Australian Chardonnay use to be a bit oaky and big and this one from Soumah in the Yarra Valley has a lot of that.
Its dry with little aromas but a chunk of oak on the flavour front. Your do get flavours of citrus, apple, grapefruit and hints of vanilla but the oak is too much for me. Its not terrible but at £12 a bottle there are better Chardonnays out there.
Supermarkets do sell excellent wine and this Extra Special, Chardonnay from the Barossa in Australia from Asda is pretty good, it may not be a gold medalist at Decanter but what I liked about it is how easy it was to drink.
Its light, medium bodied white with light aromas of peach and pineapple that come though in the flavour, there’s creaminess and hints of oak which are very welcomed. Day 2 and the pineapple came through more but still easy drinking. It lacks in many ways but as I’ve mentioned before with other wines, its a wine for a moment. In this case its in front of the TV or in the garden on a summers day. At £7 a bottle its great value, pick up a box of 6 and just enjoy.
Asda, Extra Special, Chardonnay, 2017, Barossa, Australia
New Zealand does great Pinot Noir and pretty good Sauvignon Blanc. It can do Chardonnay but this one from Stoneleigh, Repaura Series, Chardonnay is not one to drink. The aromas are oak followed by oak followed by oak. There are notes of condensed lemon in the nose but not a great initial feeling. It doesn’t get any better when you taste it, far too much oak. The wife thinks it should have been laid down for a few more years and that should allow the flavours to come out.
At £10 a bottle is not expensive for NZ wine but for a drink now wine it doesn’t work.
Stoneleigh, Repaura Series, Chardonnay, 2018, Marlborough, New Zealand
Soumah does make a great cool climate dry Chardonnay. The grapes are picked earlier than other vineyards and this gives you aromas of green apple and grass that lead into flavors of grapefruit, stone fruit, citrus and herbal notes that isn’t unpleasant. It has great length and freshness and worthy Decanter Silver medal winner. This is a wine that would go well with sea food or sipping it in the garden on a summers evening.
At £20 a bottle its not cheap but its worth spending a bit extra every now and again.
oumah, Chardonnay, 2017, Yarra Valley, Australia
South Africa produces a lot of Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay and this Daniel’s Drift from Marks & Spencer is pretty typical. At £7 a bottle (£5 on offer) or part of the M&S meal deal this is an easy drinking white wine.
Its light in colour, fresh and crisp on the nose with smells of ripe melon, apple and hints of citrus. There’s more in the flavour with grass, gooseberry and more lemon coming through. It’s a dry wine table wine with goes well with a supermarket meal or on a summer afternoon sitting in the garden.
Decanter gave it a bronze medal at the 2019 awards with 87 points which on reflection and most of the bottle is spot on and great if you can get it at £5 a bottle.
Marks & Spencer, Daniel’s Drift, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, 2018, South Africa
Tasmania makes some excellent wines but there are not often seen. Chardonnay, love it as a Burgundy or not as a new world wine. This is pretty good.
You get floral aromas and a creamy texture on the plate with flavours of citrus and grapefruit. Its fresh and youthful and very easy drinking. Decanter World Wine Awards gave this a Commended. Stingy in my view, easily a Bronze medal and possibly a Silver medal in the the right mood.
Have it with pork, salmon or tuna steaks or drink gentle to really appreciate it. At AUD20 a bottle its good value.
Devils Corner, Chardonnay 2016, Tasmania