Undoubtedly the most popular wine grape in the country, Chardonnay’s many expressions make it a wine lover’s true delight. From brisk, zesty and fruit-driven unoaked versions to buttery, creamy, oak bombs—and of course the many that strike a fine balance between the two—this grape is no one-trick pony.
To aid in your Chardonnay adventures, here are the 10 most popular bottles of recently reviewed wines that our readers have searched for in our extensive Buying Guide database. Options from California are clearly top of mind, and so are a number of selections from our Top 100 Best Buys, Top 100 Cellar Selections and Enthusiast 100 lists of 2021.
With prices ranging from under $15 to $70, and with two 100-point wines in the mix, there’s a lot to love in these 10 most popular Chardonnays.
Diora 2019 La Splendeur du Soleil Chardonnay (Monterey); $20, Wine-Searcher.com. Excellently presented aromas of butter, nectarine, warm almond and white flower are delicate but expressive on the nose…SEE SCORE AND FULL REVIEW
Far Niente 2019 Chardonnay (Napa Valley); $70, Wine-Searcher.com. Spicy oak and bright acidity complement each other in this well-made white…SEE SCORE AND FULL REVIEW
Four Vines 2019 Naked Chardonnay (Central Coast); $11, Wine-Searcher.com. This unoaked bottling carries all the tropical hallmarks of the style, starting with jasmine and guava flesh on the nose…SEE SCORE AND FULL REVIEW
Golden 2019 Chardonnay (Monterey County); $15, Wine-Searcher.com. This is a remarkable wine for the price, starting with warm aromas of peach, sea salt, macadamia nut and Meyer lemon peel…SEE SCORE AND FULL REVIEW
J. Lohr 2019 Riverstone Chardonnay (Arroyo Seco); $14, Wine-Searcher.com. Opulent aromas of ripe pear, gardenia, apple and coconut show on the nose of this bottling…SEE SCORE AND FULL REVIEW
Josh Cellars 2019 Chardonnay (California); $15, Vivino. Subtle oak spices and a lot of ripe, delicious pear and peach flavors drive this medium- to full-bodied wine…SEE SCORE AND FULL REVIEW
Kendall-Jackson 2019 Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay (California); $17, Wine-Searcher.com. Concentrated and creamy but not overly showy, this wine is balanced, restrained and layered…SEE SCORE AND FULL REVIEW
Ramey 2018 Hyde Vineyard Chardonnay (Carneros); $70, Wine-Searcher.com. This is a stunner from blocks planted in 1997 and 1999. Beautiful aromas of toasted hazelnut and stone lead to…SEE SCORE AND FULL REVIEW
Ramey 2018 Rochioli Vineyard Chardonnay (Russian River Valley); $70, Wine-Searcher.com. This wine is a testament to an outstanding site in the hands of an outstanding producer…SEE SCORE AND FULL REVIEW
Sterling 2019 Vintner’s Collection Chardonnay (California); $12, Wine-Searcher.com. A generous Bartlett pear aroma and quite ripe flavors of pear and banana are accented by butter and vanilla notes…SEE SCORE AND FULL REVIEW
Last Updated: July 12, 2023
