Chardonnays


16 people descended on my house on October 18, 2000 for a pre-Halloween chardonnay tasting. I'm a red wine fan, but wanted to broaden my horizons. There were 7 chardonnays and one blend (the Caymus Conundrum). The results were that the rather inexpensive Salmon Creek did amazingly well (thanks Rob!), and the Conundrum was the all over the board (many people loved it, others hated it). My personal conclusion is that I have a little more appreciation for white wine now, but would still prefer a red given the choice.

Results

Wine Year Price Rating Comments Rank Best Worst Avg StdDev
Salmon Creek Napa Chardonnay 1998 $12 85 Big, unoaked "French" style. Balanced fruit with a long finish (try it's '97 big brother Cab from Alexander Valley -- a Silver Oak knock off). 1 3 1 7.4 1.7
Vichon Mediterranean Chardonnay 1995 $13 82 Crisp, with mineral, apple and anise flavors that linger on the finish.Drink now. 2 2 4 6.9 1.5
Caymus Conundrum, Napa 1998 $25 88 Round and full, with creamy oak and lemon meringue notes and fresh fennel and pear flavors that lead to a long, rich finish. Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat, Chardonnay, Viognier and Semillon. Drink now through 2003. 3 3 2 6.6 2.8
Bell Pente, Willamette Valley Reserve, Oregon 1998 $25 88 Smooth and generous. A silky mouthful of peach, orange and melon that lingers. (220 cases produced) 4 1 0 6.5 1.7
Edmeades Chardonnay, Anderson Valley 1996 $17 91 Starts off with pretty hazelnut aromas, then kicks in with an elegant blend of citrus, pear, apple and peach flavors. The finish is long, with more fruit and minerals framed in toasty oak.Drink now through 2002. (6426 cases produced) 5 3 1 6.4 2.4
Benzinger Chardonnay, Sonoma 1999 $14 88 Smooth, ripe and offering complex pear, fig, light oak and spicy flavors and a full-bodied aftertaste.Drink now through 2002. (1250 cases produced) 6 1 3 6.3 2.0
BV Coastal Chardonnay, Napa 1996 $12 85 Delicate, with pleasant crisp apple and pear flavors and a firm, refreshing finish, this is a lovely bottle of Chardonnay at a more than reasonable price.Drink now. (150000 cases produced) 7 1 2 6.0 2.0
BV Carneros Chardonnay, Napa 1998 $13 89 Soft and flavorful, with delicate peach, fig, citrus and herb. Finishes clean and elegant.Drink now. (70000 cases produced) 8 2 3 6.0 2.6