Olivier Leflaive Bourgogne 2016, Burgundy, France 🇫🇷

🍇 Chardonnay 100%

🧐 Alcohol 12.5%

🍁 My Score 91 Points 

🧩 Matured for 14 months (with 4 months in stainless steel tanks), 80% in French oak and 20% in stainless steel 

🔹 Exquisite nose with aromas of lemons, pears, orange zest, yellow apples and light mineral notes. On the mouthfeel, light to medium bodied, the texture is entirely elegant, seductive fruit and refreshing acidity. The finish is medium length with flavours of citrus fruits, honey with mineral undertones.

🔸 What a classy bottle of wine! Oak is handled with care, giving this Chardonnay a delicious rounder texture and added complexity while leaving the quality of the fruit to shine. When a producer offers us such a delicious entry level wine, it makes you want to experience their entire lineup. What about pairing? With such an elegant wine, the pairing possibilities are endless. This would also make for a refreshing aperitif. Needless to say, strongly recommended. Cheers my wine friends. 

Nautilus Chardonnay 2011, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand

This wine is made with 100% Chardonnay grapes with maturation taking place in French oak (20% new) and alcohol comes in at 14%.

This wine opened up with aromas of grapefruit, apple, pear, pineapple, vanilla and mineral notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, slightly creamy with flavours of citrus and tree fruit, crisp, refreshing acidity and a long, lively and very pleasant finish. What a lovely cool-climate wine, with a great deal of elegance and finesse. Best Chardonnay I have enjoyed this year by far, strongly recommended. Score 92 points.

  

Purchased July 20, 2013 LCBO Vintages New Release (657569) at $24.95

Cloudy Bay Chardonnay 2009, Marlborough, New Zealand

 

A deep gold in color, this Chardonnay opened up with aromas of peach, pineapple, pink grapefruit, crème brulée and light minerality. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied (with alcohol coming in at 14%), rich, slightly creamy and fresh acidity. This wines finish is long with a rich combination of tropical / citrus fruit with a buttery texture. Overall a very nice Chardonnay, I would have preferred a little less oak, but the mouthfeel was very nice with enough acidity to balance all that sweetness. Score 90 points.

 

Purchased November 10, 2012 LCBO Vintages Essential (359513) at $29.95



Kenneth Volk Santa Maria Cuvée Chardonnay 2009, Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara, California, USA

 

 

This wine is produced with 100% Chardonnay grapes, and opened up with aromas of pineapple, peach, apple, crème brulée and light citrus notes. On the mouthfeel, a full bodied wine with alcohol coming in at 14.2%, rich, buttery with a sweet caramel flavours and low acidity. The length on the finish is good with a mixture of citrus and tropical fruit flavours and light minerals notes. Overall, this Chardonnay is enjoyable but I felt it could have been much better. For my palate this wine feels a little heavy, the product of too much toasty oak. When I think of cool-climate wines, I look for a wine with a vibrant energy and better acidity. Score 87 points. 

Purchased April 27, 2013 LCBO Vintages New Release (233981) at $23.95

Quails’ Gate Chardonnay 2011, VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

This Chardonnay is a mix of 50/50 tank and wood fermented with only 20% new French and American oak and alcohol coming in at 13.5%. Pale gold in color, this wine opened up with aromas of ripe pears, golden apple, citrus fruit, buttery, toasty oak and vanilla notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied, slightly creamy, fresh acidity with a nice blend of citrus and tree fruit flavours. Very good depth of flavour on the finish, light minerality, toasted hazelnut with lingering flavours of tropical fruit with a touch of honey. Well made stylish cool climate Chardonnay where the use of oak is carefully restrained and well integrated. Strongly recommended, score 89 points.

Purchased January 19, 2013 LCBO Vintages New Release (377770) at $20.95

Rodney Strong Reserve Chardonnay 2009, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA

This wine is made using 100% Chardonnay grapes, maturation taking place in 100% French oak for 13 months (26% new oak) which 10 months spent sur lie, a light fining was done before bottling but unfiltered, finally alcohol comes in at 14.5%.

This Chardonnay opened up with an elegant bouquet of pears, mandarin, lemon custard, toasted hazelnut and light vanilla notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, smooth entry with flavours of citrus, pears, vanilla and spices with refreshing acidity. This wine finish is long, slightly creamy with luscious fruit character, light spices and refreshing. Definitely my style of Chardonnay, a wine with lots of finesse and elegance where the oak treatment is carefully restrained leaving the quality of the fruit to shine. Gorgeous wine, strongly recommended, score 91 points.

Purchased November 24, 2012 LCBO Vintages new release (210039) at $34.95

Kumeu River Estate Chardonnay 2008, Kumeu, Auckland, North Island, New Zealand

Beautiful golden yellow in color, this Chardonnay opens up with aromas of grapefruit, peach, lime peel, nutty, honey and light pineapple notes. On the mouthfeel, medium bodied (alcohol coming in at 13.5%), dry, good weight with a great mix of citrus, tropical fruit and lively acidity. The finish on this wine is very refreshing with plenty of citrus fruit and as a result of 11 months barrel fermentation (of which 20% was new French oak), a touch of honey and light caramel. Fans of cool climate and moderate use of oak Chardonnay will find plenty to like in this wine, very enjoyable. Score 91 points.

Purchased July 7, 2012 LCBO New Release (640383) at $28.95

Dog Point Vineyard Chardonnay 2009, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand

 

 

This Chardonnay is 100% estate grown fruit, barrel fermented, in French oak (15% new) for 18 months with alcohol coming in at 14%. Straw yellow in color, this Chardonnay opens up with aromas of pear, peach, pineapple, lime zest, toasty and roasted nuts. On the palate, medium bodied, lean in the mouth with a slightly sweet and creamy texture with fresh acidity. Very nice length on the finish, with a mix of citrus/ripe tree fruit and refreshing acidity. What you get from Dog Point Chardonnay 2009 is elegance and a great deal of finesse. And yes, a New Zealand white wine with a cork closure. Strongly recommended. Score 92 points

 

Purchased April 28, 2012 LCBO New Release (238568) at $39.95

 

 

Edna Valley Paragon Chardonnay 2009, San Luis Obispo County, California, USA

I made the mistake of opening this bottled as a sipping wine. This is not a sipping wine, more meant to be enjoyed at the table, paired with strong flavours, like fish or roast chicken.

This Chardonnay is bright yellow in color and opens up with aromas of peach, pear and pineapple fruit, butter, vanilla, baking spices and caramel. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, tropical fruit flavours, creamy with fresh acidity. The texture is a bit heavy by oak characteristics on the finish with vanilla, spices and caramel notes lingering. Initially nice and creamy but after a while it becomes a bit too sweet with too much oak for me. Not a bad wine (minds you at $20.00 not a great value), I am sure it will appeal too many, but not for me. Score 87 points.

Purchased August 4, 2012 LCBO New Release at $19.95

Paul Cluver Chardonnay 2010, Elgin, South Africa

A lovely barrel fermented Chardonnay (French oak, 45% new) with a very inviting bouquet of citrus, lemon-lime fruit, apple, light smoke, nutty and spicy notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, fresh acidity, well handle oak treatment with creamy ripe fruit covering the palate. Good weight and length on the finish with layers of creamy richness. This is an intensely flavourful, very enjoyable, well made Chardonnay and strongly recommended. Score 91 points. 

Purchased June 9, 2012 LCBO New Release (277939) at $21.95 

William Fèvre Les Champs Royaux Chablis 2010, Burgundy, France

Wow, I just love the nose on this wine, it is so fresh and clean with great aromatics. Beautiful bright greeny straw in color on this 100% Chardonnay, this wine opens up with aromas of melon, lime, green apple and mineral scents. On the palate, medium bodied (12.5% Alc.) with green apple flavour and lively acidity. Clean finish with excellent depth of flavour, refreshing and slightly creamy texture. This wine is so well made, with very little manipulation. A pure expression of Chardonnay, clearly a very classy wine. Strongly recommended, score 92 points.

Purchased at the Vancouver Playhouse Wine Festival at $28.99

Amani Chardonnay 2009, Stellenbosh, South Africa

Produced from 100% Chardonnay, the wine is kept on the lees for 9-11 months without batonnage, maturation took place in French oak, 16% in new oak for 10 months and alcohol came in at 13.5%. This Chardonnay is very fragrant on the nose with aromas of pineapple, peach, lime, minerals and sweet butterscotch. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, refreshing acidity, well integrated oak and rich, creamy texture. Good weight and length on the finish with tropical fruit, toasty oak and spices, notes lingering. From start to finish, this is a very enjoyable and elegant Chardonnay and a great value. Score 90 points. 

Purchased November 26, 2011 LCBO New Release (687442) at $17.95

La Chablisienne Montmains Chablis 1er Cru 2009, Burgundy, France

From the cooperative La Chablisienne, this Chardonnay opens up with aromas of citrus fruit (lemon-lime), yellow plum, roasted almond,oyster shell, floral and minerals notes. On the monthfeel, dry,  medium bodied, crisp acidity with flavours of green apple and citrus fruit. Medium length and dry on the finish, with strong minerality shining through. Classic, refreshing Chablis, score 89 points.

Purchased March 3, 2012 LCBO New Release (265090) at $24.95

Domaine Du Chardonnay Chablis 2009, Burgundy, France

A beautiful greeny straw colour with aromas of lemon-lime citrus fruit, green apple, honeydew melon and hints of minerals. The palate has loads of energy and length, steely and minerals notes with good balance between fruit and racy acidity. On the finish this Chardonnay is long, pure and refreshing like a good New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc with a clean citrusy taste. I paired this wine with roasted chicken and it work beautifully. Score 89 points.  

This wine was purchased January 7, 2012 LCBO New Release at $19.95

Domaine De La Tour Monts-Mains Chablis 1er Cru 2008, Burgundy, France

This wine's elegance and sophistication is a perfect example why Chablis is one of my favourite white wines.  This Chardonnay opens with aromas of pear, citrus, dried apple, hazelnut and fresh baked bread. The mouthfeel is smooth, creamy and buttery with fine acidity. This Chablis medium length finish is clean with ripe pears and hazelnut flavours lingering. I prefer my Chablis with a little more minerality, but that being said, this was a superb wine.     

This wine was purchased March 5, 2011 LCBO New Release at $29.95.

Chalone Vineyard Monterey County Chardonnay 2009, Monterey County, California, USA

It has been a while since I have enjoyed a Chardonnay this much. For my palate, this Chardonnay was able to strike the right balance of oak, to give it a nice creamy buttery texture, good fruit and acidity. This flavourful Chardonnay opens up with citrus fruit, pear, butter and roasted nuts. The mouthfeel is rich, creamy/buttery with citrus and apple flavours and crisp acidity with a finish that is long, buttery texture with smoke and pears lingering. Well made, elegant and well priced. Highly recommended.


This wine was purchased August 20. 2011 LCBO New Release at $ 16.95.

Rodney Strong Chalk Hill Chardonnay 2008, Sonoma County, California

The fruit from this medium to full body Chardonnay is grown in the Chalk Hill appellation of Sonoma County. A refined style of California Chardonnay which went through new and old French oak barrel fermentation gives melon, pear, vanilla, clove and some toasty oak on the nose. The mouthfeel is creamy with fresh acidity and tree fruit, nutty and with some minerality. The finish is a bit hot (14.2% alc.) and spicy. A solid Chardonnay overall.

This wine was purchased April 30, 2011 LCBO New Release at $22.95