Buttery Chardonnay Requested

Rombauer chardonnay is very good and nice and buttery.

Rombauer is a napa valley vineyard, related to the Rombauer who wrote "Joy of Cooking". They are sold in most wine stores and direct to some states through their web site

snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com wrote:

Along with the suggestions, recommendations, you have received so far, I'd like to add a few:

Talbot (made fortune in ties) and does several North & Central Coast, CA/US Chards that exhibit a buttery characteristic.

Shafer Red Shoulder Ranch Chard

Newton, both their "red label" and their "Unfiltered" are quite "big" Chards.

As Ed points out, most of the really "big" ones will cost a bit and are not likely to be found at Costco, except for the Far Niente, which is still ~US$

A really good wine merchant should be able to direct you to some from his/her stock, which will be closer to the K-J VR Chard in price. I have not tasted one in several years, but feel that they probably wanted to go a bit more international in their handling/production of the wine, even though THEY basically created the demand for "big" Chards. Some even claim that theirs had a bit of residual sugar for the mass appeal, but I do not know this for a fact.

Of the ones mentioned so far, all are very good examples of well made, but heavy Chards. FWIW, the Rombauer is the favorite Chard of the folk at the Silver Oak tasting room.

Hunt

Two of the more upscale buttery Chardonnays are Murphy Goode Reserve and Chalk Hill anything. Chalk Hill even puts their SB through a malolactic fermentation. (yuck) There are a lot of cheap buttery wines too. Bogle, Fess Parker, Seven Peaks Chateau St Jean Sonoma, Berringer Founders Reserve and Ravenswood Vintners Blend. B

How could I forget the Chalk Hill . Yes, that is a fine example. Other than the C St Jean, I have not had the others. Since my wife is into big, buttery Chards, I'll stick those into my list, for those wines lists, where I don't quite know what to order for her.

Thanks, Hunt

How original! Can we have a drumroll please?

Get a life. Stupid Americans.....

There are THOUSANDS of white wines in the world. Try some!

Rombauer is a very good Cal chard for the price. Second this recommendation. It will cost about $25, though. I think that is more than the KJ.

Dimitri

Yes, in AZ/US it runs ~US$27 and the K-J is often had for ~US$9/btl. However, I feel that the Rombauer is well worth the price difference, if one likes bigger, fruity Chards.

So often people ask is Ch X really worth 500% more than Old Mundane Cab Sauvignon California Central Valley? The answer is, usually, but it all depends on one's budget, and their tastes.

Hunt

And I would have to add some of Miner's (Napa Valley) chardonnays as buttery and quite often Grgich.

I equate buttery to mean full to nearly full malolactic and some oaky and butterscotch components.

If I were forced to dig trhough some of my 2003-04 tasting notes I might unveil chards from Pine Ridge, Navarro, and Matanzas Creek among others that might fit here.

-Ken

Interesting that she comments on the 2004 KJ Chardonnay when there current release is the 2003. Maybe if she can see into the future, she should trade stocks.