Cost: $25.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: Chile
Region: Leyda Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vina Garces Silva Ltda.
Alcohol: 14.8% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: A really nice, smooth and creamy Chard featuring medium toasted oak, buttery, spiced apple, mango, pineapple, lemon zest, persimmon, creme brulée, lemon meringue pie, coconut, vanilla and cashews. Full body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: You do get some heat from the 14.5% alcohol.

Interesting Point: LCBO has this at $3 off regular price until it’s sold off. Good time to buy now.

Drink now or over the next 2-3 years on its own or pair it with, what else?; Lobster and drawn butter. Utterly hedonistic.

Tasted: 22 Sept 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 76265

Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: Rully
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Moillard
Alcohol: 13.0 %
Description: Gold in colour & a medium intense nose.

Positives: Lots of citric fruit featuring lemon, lime, pink grapefruit & a slight touch of guava. The oak is barely noticeable with just a touch of creaminess. Medium body with medium+ acidity & medium length.

Negatives: A little too citric for me.

Interesting Point: Use the smaller Chard glass as I found it to be too sour & low in fruit in the larger glass. Interesting that the French are starting to use screw caps for their wines.

Drink now on its own or pair it with seared scallops.

Tasted: 10 Sept 12, Score: 8.5/10, Value: 8.5+/10, Total: 17+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3

LCBO#: 265066

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wines
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: USA
Region: San Luis Obispo County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: E. & J. Gallo Winery
Alcohol: 14.0 %
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: A simple Chard featuring lemon, lime candy, white pepper, All-Spice, Braeburn apples, golden delicious apple, limestone & a peach finish. Medium body with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: A touch hot from the 14% alcohol.

Drink now on its own or pair it with chicken Kiev.

Tasted: 9 Sept 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 984153

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: USA
Region: Russian Valley River
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vintage Wine Estates
Alcohol: 13.9% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: A nice easy drinking Chard that has a nice balance between the oak, fruit & minerarilty. This Chard has nice creamy butteriness, lightly to medium toasted oak, lemon, juicy apples, pineapple, honeydew melon, limestone, peach, tangerines & some coconut. Medium+ body with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: A little sour on the finish.

Interesting Points: I like the minimalist label.  Use the larger Chard glass.

Drink now or cellar it over the next 3 years. Drink on its own or pair it with lobster & drawn butter.

Tasted: 8 Sept 12

Score: 9/10, Value: 8.5+/10, Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 276675