Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Carneros
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Artesa Winery
Alcohol: 13.8% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium intense nose.

A Chard that goes better with food then by itself.

Positives: This wine has light toasted oak with lemon, green apples, mandarin, pear, some guava and limestone.  Medium body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: A slight bitter aftertaste.

Interesting Point: I loved, loved, loved the 2010 vintage, unfortunately this one doesn’t measure up to that year. Use the smaller cooler climate Chard glass.

Drink now or over the next 4 years on its own or pair it with Cornish hen.

Tasted: 28 Oct 2013

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5/10 Total: 17+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+

LCBO: 657585

Cost: $28.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Sonoma County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Ferrari Carano Winery
Alcohol: 14.1% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

An eloquent Chard that would be well suited for a black tie affair.

Positives: This complex wine features integrated oak, lightly buttered toast, lemon, tangerine, green apple, McIntosh apple, peach, pineapple, honeydew melon, caramel, crème brũlée and limestone.  Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Some heat from the 14.1% alcohol.

Interesting Point: Two different Chard glasses, two different tastes. If you use the larger glass you gain more creaminess, but loose some citric notes and vice versa with the smaller cool climate glass.

Drink now or over the next 6 years on its own or pair it with Roasted Capon with Tarragon Butter and Mango Relish.

Tasted: 26 Oct 2013

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 18+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4+

LCBO: 295055

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Kendall-Jackson
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Consistently a good Chard for under $20

Positives: This wine features light oak, oak spice, lemon, green apples, some nutmeg, peach, pear and white flower on the nose. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with crab Alfredo.

Tasted: 23 Oct 2013

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5+/10 Total: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+

LCBO: 369686

Cost: $27.25
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Russian Valley River
Format: 750 mL
Producer: White Oak Winery
Alcohol: 14.3% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose.

This is quite an elegant and polished Chardonnay.

Positives: The wine features medium minus toasted oak, buttered popcorn, lemon, ginger, dill, peach, pineapple, clementine and nutmeg. Full body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Slight heat coming from the 14.4% alcohol

Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with steamed lobster and drawn butter.

Tasted: 7 Oct 2013

Score: 9/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 945816

Cost: $28.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: California
Region: Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Mer Soleil
Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

If you’re looking for a Chablis style wine you’re barking up the wrong tree. However, if you like a smooth Chard, unoaked, more on a late harvest style, then this one’s for you. I happen to like it. I have to confess, the only reason I bought this wine was I love the ceramic bottle. It’s a keeper.

Positives: This Chard is very tropical featuring pineapple, mango, honey, peach, sweet apple and lemon candy. Full body with good acidity, a long length and the alcohol is well integrated and surprising since it’s 14.5%.

Negatives: An un-oaked Chard having 14.5% and although I like the ceramic bottle the negative is that you can’t see how much wine is in the bottle.

Drink now or over the next year on its own or pair it with oysters with honey vinaigrette and shallots.

Tasted: 29 Sept 2013

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5+/10 Total: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+

LCBO: 220343