Try eight quality Chardonnays from classic Californian wine regions including Napa, Central Coast and Santa Barbara. All are available in China.
California Chardonnay for Burgundy lovers
*Published on DecanterChina.com in association with the California Wine Institute
Ripe tropical fruit nose; lime and pineapple. Crisp fruit characters, quite subtle oak, acidity evident but not over-powering. Well-crafted if not especially individual.
Lush apple compote nose with hints of white flowers. Rich, full-bodied, and concentrated with lively acidity; a good package though could use more finesse.
Musky stonefruit on the nose with a rich and creamy palate, though has some freshness to balance weight of fruit. Starting to develop tertiary notes too.
Zesty nose with delicate oak, and crisp green-apple fruit. Medium acidity, which complements the good concentration of ripe stone fruits. No blockbuster, but has presence and length.
Waxed lemon rind and pineapple nose with a rustic side. Typical of place and grape variety this is generous and ripe with great power and complexity.
Lively nose of ripe citrus and pears. Medium weight palate with fair acidity and a mineral lick. Finishes on a key lime pie note and judicious oak.
Heady nose of apples and orange peel. Lots of weight and concentration of ripe tropical and pineapple fruits on the palate but freshened up with natural acidity and a lean mineral streak on the finish.
Reticent apricot nose, with considerable purity of fruit. Fresh attack, lean and sleek, vibrant apricot and citrus fruit, taut and intense. A wine with pungency and structure, and an almost Burgundian persistence of flavour. Harmonious, textured, and long.