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

Cost: $15.95 (Clearance price: $12.80)
Grape Variety: 60% Chardonnay, 40% Viognier
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Chile
Region: Aconcagua Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vina San Estaben
Alcohol: 14% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose.

Good Chard at the clearance price

Positives: This wine features medium toasted oak, lemon, green apple, apricot, peach and pineapple. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: Bitterness and sourness on the finish.

Interesting Point: One would think that the Riedel Chardonnay/Viognier glass would be the perfect stemware for this wine; nope. The glass accentuated the bitterness/sourness. Instead I used the larger Chard glass.

Drink now or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with calamari.

Tasted: 9 Sept 2013

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 8.5+/10 (clearance price:9/10) Total: 17+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 311746

Cost: $18.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Columbia Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Chateau St. Michelle
Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold in colour with a medium intense nose.

Easy drinking Chard

Positives: This wine features light oak, medium toast, lemon, green apple,ginger, peach, pineapple, and cinnamon. Medium+ body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: Bitterness on the finish.

Interesting Point: I prefer the 2010 to the 2011, and unlike the 2010, this vintage fares better drinking from the larger Chard glass.

Drink now or over the next year on its own or pair it with lemon pepper grilled cat fish.

Tasted: 4 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: 232439