Admit it, you like California Chardonnary. It's ok, don't be ashamed. Despite what the wine snobs might have you think, there are many of you out there, and for good reason.
Eric Asimov, the wine critic of the New York Times, summed it up when he said "Those who have no use for the wine, the Anything But Chardonnay people, are like sophomores who come home from college as committed Marxists," in one of his hilarious-as-usual articles, Maligned and Misunderstood.
Tomorrow you can go and indulge yourself silly with tastings of a variety of these Chardonnays at Astor Wines, and then get 15% any of it, as part of their 15% Off Tuesdays events. (Or... order online - my search pulled up 88 different bottles of California Chardonnay!)
When I lived in Australia it was almost a national joke that only the really classless would order a "glass of CARDY"... Actually, I couldn't stand Chardonnay for the longest time, until I realized that it wasn't the grape I didn't like- it was the oak! I still to this day hate oaky white wines but thankfully I've discovered the Naked brand (I believe its made here in Canada) - fermented, stored etc in stainless steel. Clean, fresh and delightful. And they sell it in Wal-mart. Figures! ;-)
Hi Eric,
Ironically nearly half of the Chardonnay made (in the world) is using stainless or little oak. The only trouble is that the oaky versions are the popular style these days and much easier to find. French Chardonnay, particularly White Burgundy, has such high acidity that the little oak they use is well balanced and unnoticeable.
Also, talk to your wine shop salesperson and ask him or her to point you in the direction of good, clean Chardonnay.
Clean wines are what you are looking for and they can include oak. Oak is okay as long as it's balancing acid. When oak is added to wine that is flabby and rich (styles that are predominant in Australia & California) the resulting product is a tropical fruit-butter bomb, which is only rarely good.
Hi Jenny! Thanks so much for clearing that up! I HATE that flabby, rich flavour (and it nearly made me gag when offered the Chardonnay from Australia). Granted, I don't know a HUGE amount about French wines, tending to buy domestically (Ontario and Californian mainly) and now I know why I don't like these locally produced Cardies.
The problem with the way most wine is sold here in Ontario is that the government runs the liquor stores and only a few independents are allowed to retail their own wines. Most of these independents don't train their staff very well (I used to work for one so I know from experience) and the LCBO stores are generally understaffed and too busy to be of much help.
Can you recommend a few that are widely available, not too pricey and have little to no oak in them that I might be able to try?
Thanks again Jenny!
Hi Eric,
You poor thing, having once sold wine to LCBO, I understand completely what you are going through.
I just went into their website (http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo-ear/ProductResultsController) and found the following wines that you might like. You will see a range of price points, along with some dry, crisp, non-Chard types that you may also like. Granted I have not personally tried all of them but I think I have chosen well for your tastebuds:
'LES SALICES' CHARDONNAY 2004
VINTAGES 734541 | 750 mL bottle
DOMAINE LA BATTEUSE' CHARDONNAY 2003
VINTAGES 930842 | 750 mL bottle
BOLLINI' CHARDONNAY 'BARRICATO 40' 2004
VINTAGES 987503 | 750 mL bottle
RENE BARBIER MEDITERRANEAN WHITE
LCBO 332767 | 750 mL bottle
00 CH CHAMIREY BL MERCUREY (JOUENNES)
VINTAGES 179556 | 750 mL bottle
02 MEURSAULT CT BEAUNE (CHARTRON & TREBUCHET)
VINTAGES 903450 | 375 mL bottle
03 VOUVRAY LES LOGES (LA CHETEAU)
VINTAGES 525105 | 750 mL bottle
04 CHABLIS 1ER CRU VALIGNOT (LOUIS MOREAU)
VINTAGES 525386 | 750 mL bottle
04 FALANGHINA DOC TABURNO (LA RIVOLTA)
VINTAGES 4895 | 750 mL bottle
04 POUILLY FUISSSE (BLASONS DE BOURGOGNE)
VINTAGES 525030 | 750 mL bottle
04 SANCERRE LA CHATELLENIE (JOSPEH MELLOT)
VINTAGES 525154 | 750 mL bottl
05 GRUNER VELTLINER SANDGRUBE (STADT KREMS)
VINTAGES 687913 | 750 mL bottle
05 MUSCADET S ET M SOLEIL MANTAIS (GUILBAUD
VINTAGES 525162 | 750 mL bottle
05 VERMENTINO MAREMMA IGT ROCCA DI MONTEMASSI
VINTAGES 6908 | 750 mL bottl
Wow! That's a great list Jenny! I'll have to print it out and carry it in my wallet so next time I'm stumped for what to get and I'm not feeling so much in a Sauvignon Blanc mood (my favourite) I'll have some options!
Thanks again!!