Best Chardonnay Wine Rated 90+ Points For Every Budget

Chardonnay is a fortunate grape in that it is one of the most popular, respected and easily adaptable grapes in the world. For many years it was associated with Napa Valley and some of the top vineyards of Burgundy, but these days you can buy the best Chardonnay rated 90+ points from regions all over the world ranging from Willamette Valley, Oregon to South Africa. (Read More)

Cooler climates like Chablis and New Zealand produce Chardonnay that is crisp, fruity and with nervy acidity, while warmer climates produce wines of more weight and tropical fruit flavors. Regardless of your taste preference, you can browse our selection for the best Chardonnay rated 90+ points and read expert descriptions about each bottle to find the Chardonnay wine that is exactly what you want.

chardonnay novellum 2011

2011 Novellum

"Competes with some of the finest Macon-Villages wines one can find. It is made from 100% Chardonnay, and, somewhat innovatively, is aged on Viognier lees which gives it a honeysuckle and white peach-scented nose. This crisp, fresh, medium-bodied effort exhibits a brisk, zesty, authoritatively flavored character from the cool, alluvial soils on the banks of the Aigly River."

2010-foxglove-chardonnay-edna-valley-california-white-wine-750ml-thumb.jpg

2010 Foxglove

"One of the top values in California wine. It possesses tons of ripe, varietal fruit in a style that is quite rich but not heavy. Clean citrus and floral notes add freshness on the long finish. Lees stirring gives the wine much of its richness, while aging in steel helps maintain freshness. There is remarkable depth and textural finesse here, never mind a price that is mind-boggling for this level of quality. They clearly have the magic touch. These are among the finest values readers will find anywhere in the world."

chardonnay spring seed four o

2010 Spring Seed Wine Company

"Light gold. Fresh citrus fruits and green apple on the nose, plus deeper notes of anise and peach pit. Juicy pit fruit flavors are reined in by tangy acidity and become spicier with air. Lively and precise chardonnay with good finishing clarity and a persistent lemon zest quality. No oak was used for this wine either."

chardonnay baileyana firepeak 2009

2009 Baileyana

"The brighter, fresher side of California Chardonnay comes through in this effort. Clean mineral notes frame hints of lemon, crushed rocks and white flowers in this vibrant, beautifully focused wine. This is a terrific showing."

chardonnay calera 2010

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2010 Calera

"Josh Jensen makes this wine from a collection of vineyard sources in Monterey and Santa Clara counties. It's bright and citrusy with fresh scents of Mandarin orange and lemon, a lusty undertow of smoke pulling back on all the fruit. Clean and vinous, this is a zesty white."

chardonnay marimar estate acero 2010

2010 Marimar Estate

"It’s unbelievable that this Chardonnay is unoaked, it’s so incredibly rich and creamy. Just packed with layers of tropical fruits, peaches, Asian pears and oatmeal cookies. All that butter and cream must be from the malolactic fermentation and aging on the lees. One of the best unoaked Chardonnays ever."

chardonnay saintsbury carneros 2010

2010 Saintsbury

"There’s a bit of oak here, but not too much, giving a smoky, buttered toast richness to the orange, lime and pineapple fruit. It’s a rich, flashy effort, with crisp acidity and a clean, spicy finish."

chardonnay gallo signature 2010

2010 Gallo

"Exhibits copious aromas of honeysuckle, orange marmalade, poached pears and buttered citrus in a medium to full-bodied, fresh, ripe format. Drink it over the next several years."

chardonnay melville estate 2011

2011 Melville

"Bright yellow-gold. Musky pit fruits on the nose, brightened by subtle anise and floral scents. Chewy, faintly bitter orange pith, peach and tarragon flavors are broad and deep but are brightened by a dusty mineral nuance. Finishes with very good breadth and a lingering note of bitter herbs."

chablis jean paul droin vaillons 2011

2011 Jean Paul Droin

"Takes hold of the palate and never lets up. It boasts gorgeous persistence in an understated style that is hugely appealing. The 20% oak is very nicely integrated."

chardonnay etude 2010

2010 Etude

"This is a gorgeous wine laced with crushed rocks, green pears and lemon. The aromas and flavors are all bright and focused in this vibrant, taut Chardonnay. Winemaker John Priest blocks the malo on this, which helps preserve freshness and bring forward tons of aromatic nuance."

chablis jean paul droin montmain 2011

2011 Jean Paul Droin

"Minerality takes a backseat here, but that also makes it more approachable young than some of the other wines in the lineup. Citrus, mint and slate are layered into the soft, enveloping finish. Ultimately, this is about expression of fruit above all else."

chardonnay flora springs barrel fermented 2010

2010 Flora Springs

"This bottling has been variable over the decades, but this shows fine form, a good sign. It’s richly oaked and flashy in pineapple jam, buttered toast and creamy, yeasty flavors."

chardonnay frank family vineyards 2011

2011 Frank Family Vineyards

"Reverberates with fresh, lively green apple, pear, peach and citrus notes. Complex, layered and persistent."

chardonnay freestone 2009

2009 Joseph Phelps

"Pale, bright, green-tinged yellow-gold. Ripe apricot and orange blossom aromas, with deeper notes of mirabelle, honey, white chocolate and spicy oak. Round and spicy, with very good depth and palate presence. Fruit cocktail and sexy oak flavors are nicely supported by a mineral firmness. Finishes with a lightly tannic impression and very good length."

chardonnay failla sonoma coast 2011

2011 Failla

"This is firm in acidity, bracing in minerals and bone dry. That makes it sound austere, but you’ll find delicious apricot, lime and citron flavors, enhanced by sweet oak."

chardonnay foxen bien nacido block uu 2011

2011 Foxen

"A wine of significant potential (tasted out of tank), this is cool and beautifully focused, with lovely purity in its aromas and flavors. Flowers, lemon peel, crushed rocks and spices are layered into the energetic, polished finish."

chardonnay brewer clifton mount carmel 2009

2009 Brewer Clifton

"Yellow-gold. An exotically perfumed nose offers candied orange, licorice and a hint of toasty lees. The most opulent of this set of chardonnays but there's uncanny vibrancy in play as well. Really expands with air, picking up a sexy floral and spice character, with a mineral note coming up. Finishes youthfully vibrant and long, with heady finishing notes of pit fruits, fennel and spices."

chardonnay pride mountain vineyards 2011

2011 Pride Mountain Vineyards

"Lemon, crushed rocks, spices and white flowers all come to life in the glass. This was partially done in steel (15%) and the malo was not fully completed, two choices that show Pride moving towards a fresher, more vibrant style of Chardonnay. I have to say, this is superb."

2010 Chalk Hill

"Offers an expansive mix of ripe fig, apricot, mango and tropical fruit, holding a rich posture on the long, layered finish. Drink now through 2020."

chardonnay forman 2011

2011 Forman

"This is very pretty. Lemon, pastry, white flowers and spices come together nicely as this vivid wine shows off its considerable personality."

chardonnay flanagan 2010

2010 Flanagan

"This is rich, buttery and beautifully balanced. Tropical fruit, smoke, spices, melon and flowers are layered into the gorgeous finish."

chardonnay flowers moon select 2009

2009 Flowers

"A delightfully fragrant, rich, yet elegant and delicate expression of ripe peach, honeysuckle and spice. Impressive for its lithe body, persistence and depth. Fun and refreshing to drink."

2009 Leeuwin Estate

"A deftly balanced Chardonnay of tremendous depth without much weight, floating its pear, quince, floral and orange marmalade flavors through to the end. It's the finish that makes this special, balancing all the elements effortlessly and lingering on and on. Drink now through 2025."

chardonnay aubert eastside 2011

2011 Aubert

"Amazingly complex, with a rich array of fig, apricot, butterscotch, crème brûlée and roasted marshmallow notes, sailing along and gaining on the finish, where the flavors are deep and persistent.

90 points or higher for all budgets

We demystify the wine buying process so you can purchase knowing you are getting a superb, high quality wine. All of our wines are rated 90 points or higher by at least one of the following industry experts:

Why do points matter? Learn about the point system.

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