American - White: Chardonnay

Benziger's style of Chardonnay is characterized by aromas and flavors of citrus, tropical fruits, pear and apple offset by notes of butter, hazelnut and nutmeg. The texture is marked by a lovely yeast component supported by good acids and a rich, silky mouthfeel. Medium bodied and buttery, the wine's finish is well integrated with good fruit intensity.

This Chardonnay is a blend of grapes from four extraordinary vineyards in California. The result is a complex nose of roasted nuts and fruits ranging from honeydew melon to baked apple. The long lingering finish seems almost endless as you enjoy the subtle notes of walnut and vanilla.

Displays fresh, forward, ripe Granny Smith apple, pear and melon fruit accented by mineral, subtle yeast and warm oak spice tones. Full and lush on the palate, with a mouth-filling texture, its multi-layered apple and pear flavors are enriched by subtle yeast and toasty oak tones that extend into a very long finish. Youthfully compact, with superb structure and an ideal balance of fresh fruit, acid and wood tones, this superb Napa Valley Chardonnay will develop beautifully in the bottle for another 3 to 5 years.

This wine offers a beautiful nose of ripe lemon sorbet and notes of white peach and lilac. The palate is very soft, the wine just melts in your mouth, there's not a single hard edge. Citrus and pear flavors are most forward with a bit of orange blossom while minerality and a light nutty character highlight the finish.

This wine is rich in every sense. A complex wine full of citrus and apple notes; oak aromas with a lush mouth feel and a lingering crisp finish. This wine will complement any seafood and really stand out with rich cream sauces on pasta or chicken. Serve only slightly chilled to allow the aromas to fully open up.

Elegant and fruit-focused, Chalone 2006 Monterey County Chardonnay captures the bright pear, apple, citrus and stone fruit character of grapes grown in Monterey County along California's Central Coast. Enjoy Chalone's Chardonnay with flavors from the ocean, such as crab cakes, grilled fish, prawns sauteed in butter and garlic, or scallops and angel hair pasta tossed with a cream sauce. Or pour with grilled chicken or pork, creamy chowders and mushroom risotto.

Bold, rich and fruity, built on a solid core of ripe pear, apple and honeydew melon, it picks up a nice spicy nutmeg and hazelnut flavor and ends with a burst of fruit complexity.

Fragrant peach, pineapple and banana aromas give way to apple and pear flavors with a long and refreshing finish, enjoy this yummy Chardonnay by itself or with a wide selection of cuisine including poultry, fish and seafood.

Hints of citrus and pineapple complement a ripe pear and baked apple aroma. Balanced with superb sugar and acidity with full forward fruit and a nice texture through the finish.

Immediately upon opening, the wine offers up inviting aromas of buttery apple, pear and honey. These flavors play out on a tropical palate with layers of toasty oak and carry into the long, soft finish.

A captivating wine with tropical overtones supplemented by toasty almond with impressive balance and length. This complex, fruit-driven Chardonnay that calls for richer foods such as lobster, mussels or salmon.

Showing balanced depth and complexity, light straw to golden color, aromas unfold with layers of lemon, pear, apricot and wet stone minerality. This vintage shows crispness on the palate, with a lush and balanced citrus finish. Showing very well now and will continue to gain complexity for 1 - 3 years.

This Russian River Chardonnay is a pleasure on both nose and palate, offering nice crisp acidity, fresh, lively grapefruit and melon. NO oak, leaving nothing but a pleasing, food-friendly wine that leaves you begging for another sip. This gorgeous wine offers exceptional flexibility with an assortment of foods.

This 100% Chardonnay is crisp, complex and well balanced. Layers of toastiness and creaminess blend together harmoniosly to create a wine that is both lively and rich in aroma and flavor. Very enjoyable young or after several years of bottle age. Serve with seared Halibut or any shellfish.