What are your favorite California chardonnays?

Answer 1

There are some wonderful California Chardonnays being made these days. The market used to be full junk wines - but as the american public starts to be a little more discerning about there wines - so that market improves.

These are some that i drink from time to time

Wente Riva Ranch Reserve - great for the price - and when you're talking California Chards - safe to go with the original strain that was the basis for all of the UC-Davis Experiments. about 18/bottle

Hayman & Hill - they make a great Meritage - but there Chard is very nice - normally 17 - 20 bucks retail.

Stonestreet - best known for their cabs again, but they seemed to excel on this Chard - bout 15 bottle retail

O'Brien - great newer wine from the Oak Knoll region of Napa - full body, almost a Bordeaux style.

THE BIG DOGS - my all time favorites:
Grchich Hills 2004 from Rutherford in Napa Valley - phenomenal across the board - last time i ordered it in restaurant i paid about $110

Flowers 2004 from Sonoma County normally about 125

Newton, Unfiltered 2003 from Napa Valley - i love unfiltered Chards - such a classic French quality almost shouldn't be more than $90

Cakebread Cellars 2005 out of Napa Valley - normally in the $95 vicinity

Far Niente 2004 another Napa Valley normally around $115

Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 2005 - Napa Valley about $80

These are just some of my favorites - i turn toward the very distinctive characteristic California Chardonnays that are true to their French Roots.

Answer 2

Pitboss and Nate both gave some great recommendations. Here are some from me.

Pride Chardonnay ($35)/Reserve chardonnay ($60) - both from the mountaintop vineyard on Spring Mountain, with moderate oak and great fruit flavor. Definitely one of my favorite.

Cakebread Chardonnay ($55) - hard to obtain and highly sought after, at the valley floor in Oakville

Far Niente ($55) - another great Oakville product

Chateau Montelena ($35) - from Calistoga winery, it is a historic chardonnay that top top prize at Paris Judgement in 1973.

Frank's Family Vineyard ($30) - small production in St. Helena with plenty of fruit and very collectible

In general, Californian Chardonnay tend to be too oaky, just like some of the Cabernet; also too acidic. Personally I like the more buttery and less acidic Chardonnay.

Answer 3

All bad? Are you kidding?
Barrel aging has been used for over 40 years in California. Hundreds of years in Burgundy.
Malolactic fermentation causes the buttery flavor from a compound called diacetyl. Many winemakers do not use malo or use it partially. More and more wineries are shying away from it as fruit gets riper and more aromatic on its own. Again, this is an old Burgundy technique. Nothing new.

California is extremely diverse soils, climates (both macro and micro) and an endless supply of intelligent and creative winemakers. I have many friends that make wine in CA as well as close friends that make wine in Burgundy. There is just as much respect for CA Chardonnay by Burgundy winemakers and vice versa.
"All bad" is a blanket statement and I know for a fact there is plenty of BAD white Burgundy made by lazy, greedy people who rest on appellations to sell sub par wine. Let's not forget certain negociants that will use fruit in any condition and often blend from outside the appellation.
That being said here is a short list of some great CA Chardonnay. I've taken many of these to Beaune and had many winemakers prefer them over their regional favorites.

Mount Eden Estate Chardonnay
Peter Michael-Belle Cote, Mon Plaisir, Point Rouge and Cuvee Indigene bottlings
Hanzell Estate Chardonnay
Patz and Hall-Hyde, Zio Tony and Durell bottlings
Kongsgaard- The Judge Chardonnay
Pahlmeyer Chardonnay
Kistler Cuvee Cathleen Chardonnay
Walter Hansel Winery Chardonnay Hansel Family Vineyard Cuvee Alyce

These aren't burgundy look alikes. They are California wines that utilize many of the techniques but remain distinct to their region. Some use malo, some do not.

Answer 4

Four Vines Naked Chardonnay (unoaked)
Navarro Table Wine (Chardonnay) was pretty good
Wolff Vineyards in San Luis makes good chards

Oakiness and ML are not for everybody, but I think that style is on the way out in CA.

Agreed, you can't generalize about any wine region. There is some complete piss coming out of France these days and there are some gems coming from other unexpected places.

Answer 5

They're all bad .If you want to drink Chardonnay drink the ones that come from Burgundy.
Edit
Sorry about the answer my brain must have been somewhere else [pick a spot ]
However w/o my bad answer another great answer would probably not have be given

Answer 6

Barefoot California Chardonnay

I cook with it and drink the leftovers. s'fun

Answer 7

I used to love CA chards, but not since they started barrel oaking them. Now they just taste buttery and cloying. Go with a crisper white, like sauvignon blanc or pinot grigio.