RETAILER WINE RECOMMENDATIONS
CHARDONNAY
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Rating System ***** Five Stars (92-100) A top-flight wine. Superior in taste and character and providing an outstanding price/value relationship. **** Four Stars (86-91) A very good wine and an excellent value. A wine for which customers will keep coming back. *** Three Stars (80-85) An above-average wine, at a reasonable price point, which many customers will enjoy. ** Two Stars (70-79) An average wine. * One Star (50-69) A below-average wine. |
*****
FIVE STARS
***** (95) Valley of the Moon 1996 Sonoma Chardonnay (California). Rich and bold with notes of toasty oak from barrel fermentation; flavors of apple and pear; a buttery middle and a solid finish. ($22)
***** (95) 1997 Boillot Montagny 1st Cru (France). Excellent affordable white burgundy; smooth and ample green apple fruit; elegant; great balance of fruit and acidity. ($23)
***** (95) Cinnabar 1996 Chardonnay (California). Clean apple, Bartlett pear and peach fruit aromas with notes of vanilla and clove; tastes like vanilla cream pie with hints of peaches; balanced, relatively low acid on a long finish; enjoy. ($20)
***** (95) Verget Bourgogne 1996 (France). Bright apple fruit with notes of flowers and hazelnuts; flavors of peach, apple and pear with notes of flint and nuts; relatively high acid; a long finish. ($20)
***** (94) Louis Jadot Puligny-Montrachet “Les Perrieres” 1997 (France). Lush and very concentrated; medium- to full-bodied; steely core of brightly focused layers of floral, hazelnut and mineral notes; very long finish with medium acids. ($75)
***** (94) 1997 Domaine Drouhin Chassagne-Montrachet (France). This has the soft feel and full flavors of the 1997 white burgundies; a real treat. ($35)
***** (94) Landmark 1997 Overlook Sonoma Chardonnay (California). Beautiful nose of carnations and sweet vanilla; exquisite balance; intense fruit is layered from start to finish; richness dominates. ($20)
