The ever-versatile Chardonnay can produce dry wines as easily as it produces sweet wines. It is used for still wine and sparkling wine. It can taste of fresh green apples and minerals in one iteration and toasty vanilla and caramel in another. It can be lean and full of acidity as easily as it can be buttery and creamy. The Chardonnay of France is a very different expression than the Chardonnay of Australia. Like the almost ubiquitous Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay wines are made in virtually every wine region on Earth. Italy, Chile, New Zealand, Argentina all have their own Chardonnay wines.
What are the best Chardonnay wines?
The hand of the winemaker is easily seen in the neutral Chardonnay. Just look at the different styles that all use the same grape. Chablis, Champagne, Burgundy, and Napa Valley, California, use the grape to make wines that are nothing alike. The popularity of the 1970s and 80s led to a backlash (A.B.C. "Anything But Chardonnay" in the 1990s and 2000s. Thankfully this sentiment has mellowed into a new era of diversity in style, with great examples being made worldwide. One hallmark of the newer-California Chardonnay style is a buttery texture, which is the result of malolactic fermentation (the process of converting tart malic acid into softer lactic acid. In contrast, the steely and largely unoaked cool climate Chablis showcases the essence of the Chardonnay grapes. In Burgundy, the varietal is also treated with the utmost respect in French oak barrels. The best-made Grand Cru Chardonnays can be cellared for quite some time.
What is the tasting profile of Chardonnay wine?
This white grape exhibits notes that range from green apple, citrus, and flint to tropical fruit, flowers, fig, hazelnut, vanilla, butterscotch, honey, or oak. Chardonnays, like Premier Cru White Burgundy, are going to exhibit more oaky and subtle fruit flavors than the minerally-driven unoaked Chardonnay wines from Chablis. Warm climate, new-world Chardonnay (try Western Australia, Central Coast, or even South Africa) will have riper, jammy red fruit flavors. Chardonnay is also one of the key components of Champagne winemaking and can be featured alone in a Blanc de Blanc or alongside Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. High-acidity often translates into a wine that's perfect for food pairing, and Chardonnay grapes are no exception when picked at the right time. This versatility and ease of cultivation have led to the demise of many indigenous grape varieties around the world that are more difficult to cultivate. This is why Chardonnay, like Cabernet Sauvignon, is sometimes called a "colonizer." Whether you prefer Chardonnay from a warmer climate or a cooler climate, half the fun is the exploration, and with Chardonnay, you can truly taste the world.
Want to learn more about Chardonnay?
Want to learn more about Chardonnay? Check out Firstleaf’s Ultimate Guide to Chardonnay.