Best Chardonnays outside Burgundy
Aside from the whites of Burgundy, which of the world’s leading Chardonnay regions should you turn to, and what are the top wines from each?
Chardonnay, most wine lovers agree, is the noblest white grape variety (we’ll allow Riesling enthusiasts a dissenting voice), and today it’s widely planted throughout the world.
It’s still fair to say that the best Chardonnay in the world is made from the premier and grand cru vineyards of Burgundy’s Côte-d’Or, but with mature vineyards and experienced winemakers working with the variety, the best examples from elsewhere are catching up with the best of Burgundy.
Malleable
Unlike its Burgundian stablemate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay has never been particularly difficult to grow. While it tends to thrive in relatively cool sites, it can succeed in a number of styles, from unoaked through to richly oaked, lean and minerally through to voluptuous and tropical. In short, it’s malleable.
This is a variety that winemakers love to play with, as they can easily exercise their skills on it, dabbling in all kinds of variables such as yields, barrel fermentation, malolactic fermentation (or its suppression), lees-stirring and more.
Introduction copy by Stephen Brook in the March 2015 issue of Decanter magazine.
The best Chardonnays outside of Burgundy:
The following wines are some of our top scoring Chardonnay wines tasted by our experts, from regions outside Burgundy.
Best Chardonnay regions
France
The grands crus of Puligny- and Chassagne-Montrachet are considered the finest Chardonnays in the world, as well as the richer examples from the hill of Corton
Both oxidative and non-oxidative ‘ouillé’ winemaking produces Chardonnay of a very different style to Burgundy
Australia
Margaret River, Western Australia
A peninsula jutting out into the Indian Ocean, the region has a maritime character with wet winters and warm, dry summers
Adelaide Hills, South Australia
The altitude of the vineyards – reaching over 600m – lends freshness and moderation to the grapes
Yarra Valley, Victoria
Situated north of Melbourne, the hills of Yarra provide varying topography to ideally site vineyards, providing shelter from wind and sun
Geelong, Victoria
The maritime climate of Geelong, close to Port Phillip Bay and the Bass Strait, provides a long growing season for vines planted on varying soil types.
Australia’s coolest region, the island of Tasmania is as renowned for its sparkling wines as for its still Chardonnay wines
Argentina
Uco Valley, Mendoza
Vineyards planted at up to 1,400m above sea level provide cool conditions with plenty of sunshine
South Africa
Hemel-en-Aarde, Walker Bay
The narrow valley traps moisture-laden clouds, while the clay slopes have vineyards planted at up to 350m. In combination with the cooling Atlantic breezes, it’s an ideal location for elegant Chardonnay
Elgin, Western Cape
Very close to the coast, Elgin’s altitude, cooling breezes and morning mists are all beneficial for growing Chardonnay
USA
Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
One of Sonoma’s coolest AVAs, strongly influenced by cool ocean breezes flowing through the Petaluma Gap. Vines enjoy a long growing season, and the south of the AVA experiences morning fog
Santa Cruz Mountains, San Francisco Bay
Mountainous terrain offering cooler, west-facing exposures facing the coast and warmer, east-facing exposures sheltered from the ocean breezes
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Gralyn Estate, Reserve Chardonnay, Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia, 2017
Gralyn Estate, founded in 1975 by Merilyn and Graham Hutton, and named Gralyn as a blend of their names, is located in the Wilyabrup sub-region...
2017
Gralyn EstateMargaret River
Tolpuddle Vineyard, Chardonnay, Coal River Valley, Tasmania, Australia, 2017
More sharply honed and clearly defined than its predecessors, this wine’s high notes of pithy grapefruit are underpinned by rich undertones of roasted cashew, which...
2017
Tolpuddle VineyardCoal River Valley
Driftwood Estate, Artifacts, Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia, 2015
Driftwood Estate is situated in the Wilyabrup sub-region of Margaret River and was founded in 1989 by Tom and Helen Galopoulos. The winemaking philosophy at...
2015
Driftwood EstateMargaret River
Catena Zapata, Adrianna Vineyard White Bones Chardonnay, Uco Valley, Gualtallary, Mendoza, Argentina, 2016
From the Adrianna Vineyard’s most chalk-rich soils. Pungent acidity, like a freshly sharpened razor. 80% of the wine is matured under flor, accounting for the...
2016
Catena ZapataUco Valley
Domaine Tissot, Les Graviers, Arbois, Jura, France, 2015
97
An astonishing biodynamic Chardonnay that takes hold of you from the very first moment your nose gets anywhere near the glass. Not many wines fit the description 'gulpable' but this really does. Candied lemon cut through with a twist of concentrated lime and cut slate. The wine contracts on the finish, thrillingly tense, and keeps you held there for a good five minutes. Can't remember when I've enjoyed a Chardonnay outside of Burgundy more. A wine that makes you want to call your friends to share the good news.
2015
Domaine TissotArbois
Catena Zapata, Adrianna Vineyard White Stones Chardonnay, Uco Valley, Gualtallary, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina, 2012
97
Since 2009, winemaker Alejandro Vigil has been experimenting with vines planted on calcareous soils from the Adrianna Vineyard in Gualtallary, 1,500m above sea level in the Uco Valley. The mountain climate and these extremely chalky soils give this wine an intense freshness and minerality. It has a focused arrow of acidity with powerful freshness, and a stout, firm body full of tension. It shows both great varietal character and sense of place.
2012
Catena ZapataUco Valley
Leeuwin Estate, Art Series Chardonnay, Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia, 2016
2016 was an outstanding year, with an early, fine summer with daily sea breezes. Slightly above-average January and February temperatures were offset by a welcome...
2016
Leeuwin EstateMargaret River
Tapanappa, Tiers Vineyard Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia, 2016
Bright nougat, toasted almond and cashew aromas. The palate is intense and refreshingly crisp, with concentrated lemon and citrus fruit, plus tremendous refinement. This has...
2016
Tapanappa
Cullen, Kevin John Chardonnay, Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia, 2011
A consistently hot, supermoon vintage produced this intensely complex, powerful Chardonnay. The grapes were picked on 1 February then 9 to 11 February. Just one-third...
2011
CullenMargaret River
By Farr, GC Côte Vineyard Chardonnay, Geelong, Victoria, Australia, 2017
GC references founder Gary Charles Farr – but it could stand for grand cru! Vines planted on exposed slopes with loam, limestone, volcanic, clay and...
2017
By FarrGeelong
Vasse Felix, Heytesbury Chardonnay, Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia, 2015
Virginia Willcock has crafted a wine that is complex, edgy and lean, and dances on a razor's edge. Enticing oyster-shell notes on an ultra-fine and...
2015
Vasse FelixMargaret River
Antinori, Cervaro della Sala, Umbria, Italy, 2015
2015 was a textbook vintage and this is a great Cervaro. Citrus, cream and white flowers on the nose lead seamlessly onto the palate, where...
2015
Antinori
Shaw & Smith, Lenswood Vineyard Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia, 2016
Located in the cool Lenswood sub-region, this vineyard, originally planted for fizz, produces a pale, precise Chardonnay. Gentle lees-stirring sheathes the rapier- like palate of...
2016
Shaw & SmithAdelaide Hills
Deep Woods, Reserve Chardonnay, Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia, 2017
Located in the Yallingup Hills of Margaret River, this 32ha estate was established in 1987 and subsequently acquired by the Fogarty family in 2005. Chief...
2017
Deep WoodsMargaret River
Stella Bella, Luminosa Chardonnay, Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia, 2014
The southern reaches of Margaret River rarely taste better: vibrant tropical fruit, white peach and a hint of florals. This is succulent and full flavoured...
2014
Stella BellaMargaret River
Xanadu, Reserve Chardonnay, Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia, 2015
This is made from Xanadu's oldest vines (planted 1977) to produce a superlative white: schisty minerality on the nose then intense mineral stone fruit flavours...
2015
XanaduMargaret River
Ataraxia, Chardonnay, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, Walker Bay, South Africa, 2015
A lovely pure peach stone nose with white flower notes, creamy but not heavy. Expertly judged oak flows across a wonderfully salty, briny palate. There...
2015
AtaraxiaHemel-en-Aarde Ridge
Kalin Cellars, Cuvée LD Chardonnay, Sonoma County, California, USA, 1993
Another 'stealth cuvée' from Kalin Cellars, California’s most idiosyncratic winery, this Chardonnay spent an amazing twenty-two months sur lie—something that used to be common in...
1993
Kalin CellarsSonoma County
Heemskerk, Chardonnay, Tasmania, Australia
96
Shy, restrained aroma hinting at malt, flowers and honey. Delicate, refined and restrained palate of great intensity, line and length,holding a lot in reserve. A great wine of class and finesse.
Heemskerk
Kalin Cellars, Cuvée LV Chardonnay, Sonoma County, California, USA, 1995
Reminiscent of an old-school white Burgundy, this wine's complex, refined bouquet of orchard fruit, herbs and wet rocks is followed by an expansive and authoritative...
1995
Kalin CellarsSonoma County
Thelema Mountain Vineyards, Sutherland Chardonnay, Elgin, South Africa, 2015
96
Struck match complexity on the nose, which mingles with green pears and dusty granitic minerality. It is dense, smoky and mineral. Spice and tightly-wound richness combines with excellent freshness underpinning the whole. There are rapier acids and it is super linear - this has lovely focus and a fine, tapering finish.
2015
Thelema Mountain Vineyards
Oakridge, Vineyard Series Willowlake Chardonnay, Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia, 2017
Sourced from one of the Upper Yarra’s oldest, most prestigious sites: the 300m Gladysdale vineyard. Whole-bunch pressed directly to French oak puncheons and naturally fermented,...
2017
OakridgeYarra Valley
Flametree, SRS Chardonnay, Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia, 2016
96
Intriguing aromatics of oyster shell, sea spray and flinty minerality lead to a vibrant palate of fresh grapefruit that is intense and persistent. Wonderful power and depth, finishing with verve and impeccable balance.
2016
FlametreeMargaret River
Tyrrell’s, Vat 47 Hunter Chardonnay, Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia, 2013
A dry spring until late January, and a gust or so of wind, made for good picking conditions under blue skies abundant with silvery-white clouds....
2013
Tyrrell’sHunter Valley
Voyager Estate, Chardonnay, Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia, 2009
Perfect warm, dry conditions with cool nights produced terrific concentration and balance here. Perfumed aromas of ripe pear, juicy rock melon and honey follow through...
2009
Voyager EstateMargaret River
Ramey, Woolsey Road Vineyard Chardonnay, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley, California, USA, 2015
This cool-sited single vineyard, owned by the Martinelli family, was planted to Ramey’s specifications in 2007 using the famous old-fashioned Wente clone. Though the vineyard...
2015
RameySonoma County
Arnot-Roberts, Trout Gulch Vineyard Chardonnay, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains, California, USA, 2015
The grapes from this extraordinary vineyard are at 240m altitude and just 6km from the Pacific Ocean, making it one of California’s coolest Chardonnay sites....
2015
Arnot-RobertsSan Francisco Bay
Murdoch Hill, Artisan Series The Tilbury Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia, 2016
Smoky, lightly reductive bouquet with underlying peach and other stone-fruit aromas, mixed spices and a dash of honey. Intense and full-bodied palate, rich and yet...
2016
Murdoch Hill
Mount Eden Vineyards, Estate Chardonnay, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains, California, USA, 2012
Jeffrey Patterson has been making vivid, intense, ageworthy wines from this vineyard since 1981 and it consistently produces fantastic, Burgundian-style Chardonnays. Barrel-fermented, aged in 50%...
2012
Mount Eden VineyardsSan Francisco Bay
Singlefile, The Vivienne Chardonnay, Great Southern, Western Australia, Australia, 2016
Named after co-founder Viv Snowden, this top cuvée is only made in exceptional years. The family’s late-ripening Denmark vineyard was harvested in three passes, making...
2016
SinglefileGreat Southern
Penfolds, Bin 144 Yattarna Chardonnay, Cross-Regional Blend, Australia, 2016
Penfolds’ white winemaker Kym Schroeter ranks among Australia’s top Chardonnay makers. This incisive Chardonnay – a multi-regional blend from Tasmania, Henty, Adelaide Hills and Tumbarumba...
2016
Penfolds