Chardonnay (unoaked)

What is it?

Chardonnay is a white grape grown many places around the world. It is one of the top grown grapes. Chardonnay is known for being a versatile grape that can grow in many climates and vary with the winemaking style. Unoaked Chardonnay is aged in stainless steel, while oaked Chardonnay is aged in oak barrels.

Primary flavors include lemon, yellow apple, butter, vanilla, and pineapple. Since this Chardonnay was unoaked, it will have crisper flavors than oaked versions. Chardonnay goes well with many things; unoaked Chardonnays are lighter and crisper, so vegetable dishes or seafood are good choices. We had this wine with a mushroom risotto.

Molly's Rating and Tasting Notes

7.6. There's quite a bit of lemon on the nose. It almost reminds me of how lemon-scented cleaning solution feels if you breathe that in. The taste is similar. The finish is pretty bitter, and there's a bit of a bite to it. I can't say I like the finish, but everything before that is okay.

Ryan's Rating and Tasting Notes

8.4. On the nose I get buttered bread, vanilla, allspice, pistachio, and tin. There's a little bit of a fresh fruit smell, but it's hard to pinpoint exactly what type of fruit. Upon tasting, it is simultaneously fresh, yet comforting. Some of the tasting notes I get upfront are pineapple and green apple, but these are quickly overtaken by warmer notes of brioche, vanilla, and a roasted pistachio. I should mention that although these flavors take center stage, the fruitiness is still there in the background. There is a decent acidity in the beginning, that mellows out towards the end, making the finish silky and velvety. The aftertaste is decently long, which is appreciated as it is a tasty wine. Overall, a varied, well-balanced wine that is quite good to sip on. Would recommend.

References

[1] Madeline Puckette and Justin Hammack. Wine Folly: The Master Guide. Avery - A Penguin Imprint, New York, NY, 2018.

[2] "Chardonnay." Wine Folly. https://winefolly.com/grapes/chardonnay/Accessed: October 2023.

Wines we haven't finished

  • Week 38 - Trebbiano Toscano