looking for buttery (malolactic) chardonnays

Jul 21, 2004 5 Replies

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Fiona 22 years ago

Hi all,

It seems like most of the chards available in my grocery store this year are "crisp and fruity," but I'd buy apple juice if that was what I wanted! Because I have no sense of smell, I prefer a big-bodied buttery chardonnay. Oaky and vanilla-y are good too.

Possibly there are some out there that would provide the mouth-feel that I want, but I'm turned off by labels advertising apple, grapefruit, and other citrus.

I was sorta curious about a fig-flavored chard, but the $20 price tag was too expensive for me.

I'll be grateful for advice! Fiona

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Tom S 22 years ago

I hate to scare you off, but $20 is pretty much entry level for the type of wine you are seeking.

Not that there aren't a number of big producers out there that you might be satisfied with (e.g. Gallo of Sonoma, Belvedere, Kendall-Jackson - to name a few) but the better stuff starts at ~$20US.

Tom S www.châteauburbank.com

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Mike Tommasi 22 years ago

If you have no sense of smell, then the presence of oak, vanilla or butter aromas would make no difference to you.

I see.

Mike

Mike Tommasi, Six Fours, France email link

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Bill 22 years ago

Fiona you might try the Chateau St Jean Sonoma County Chardonnay that sells for around $10 or less. The Heitz sells for about $15 and is really a good buy. One that I like right now is Rodney Strong Chalk Hill Vineyard that is also around $15. Try these wines just barely chilled instead of very cold.

If you want to go for the gold in this line, try the Chalk Hill. I think they substitute about 50% butter in their wine.

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Ed Rasimus 22 years ago

I'm with Fiona regarding "apple, grapefruit, and citrus" in Chardonnay. If I want those flavors I'll tend toward Viognier, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling. At least that's where I usually encounter those flavors.

For Chards I like butter, vanilla, and (alas) oak. I agree with previous comments that finding "big" Chards with those flavors usually means a bit more $$, but surprisingly my old stand-by Rex Goliath comes through with a 47-pound Rooster Chardonnay that is very much into the butter, vanilla style. At $5/bottle it's hard to go wrong.

I've also found that Australian Chardonnays seem to lean toward that sweeter, big buttery style--with the exception of Penfold's Rawson's Retreat, which doesn't taste like much of anything.

Ed Rasimus Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret) "When Thunder Rolled" Smithsonian Institution Press ISBN #1-58834-103-8

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