It’s Time to Revisit Chardonnay (Yes, Chardonnay) With These Under $20 Bottles

When it comes to Chardonnay, people either seem to be die-hard fans or staunch supporters of the Anything-But-Chardonnay movement. No matter which side you fall on, you can’t deny this grape’s popularity. After all, it’s one of the most widely-planted varieties in the world. 

For what it’s worth: we think Chardonnay is well worth your while. 

“I think it is the most misunderstood varietal on the planet,” says Tonya Pitts, the wine director at the San Francisco restaurant One Market and a Wine Enthusiast writer-at-large who reviews wines from California, among other regions in the United States. “Wine drinkers often say, ‘I don’t like or drink Chardonnay.’ My rebuttal is, ‘You haven’t tasted one you like yet.’”

This grape can produce wines that run the gamut from tropical and fruity to flinty and earthy on the palate. It’s also somewhat of a shapeshifter. Chardonnay can lend itself well to oak aging, resulting in wines that display vanilla and toasted tones. And if the grape undergoes malolactic fermentation? These wines will typically have a creamy and buttery mouthfeel. In other words, there is a Chardonnay for everyone.

What Makes a Good Chardonnay?

There are many Chardonnays available today—from unoaked bottles fermented in stainless steel to opulent and oaky versions and everything in between—but there are some similar qualities that make or break a bottle.

“I look for balance, flavor profiles and typicity,” Pitts says. No matter the style, “I am seeking out the best expression that can captivate the palate of the wine drinker, deliver the spark in the eye and the head nod.”

Case in point, a 2022 vintage from Lodi winery Gen5  has “freshness, bright fruit and zippy acidity that set it apart,” Pitts says. “It’s great on its own or with a meal.” 

Meanwhile, a 2022 bottle from Buttercup, a producer in the Central Valley of California, “delivers tropical fruit flavors with brash minerality,” Pitts describes. “It says beachside with tropical fruits, sea salt and sunshine. At that moment, it could be a vacation getaway for someone.” 

There are also crowd-pleasing qualities to look for. “A properly made Chardonnay, especially for a wider segment of the drinking public, involves pairing bright, refreshing acidity with slightly warmer, more luxurious flavors that this rich-but-racy variety delivers,” says Matt Kettmann, a Wine Enthusiast writer-at-large who reviews wines from California.

He remarks that a 2022 bottle from J Lohr has those qualities plus “the magical third component: a mineral streak of wet stone, drawing the earthy nature of wine into the heart of the equation,” he says. 

Finding Your Next Favorite Bottle of Chardonnay

One of the best ways to figure out what tastes good to you is simply to open up a bottle. “There are so many different flavor profiles and expressions,” Pitts says. “Once you find one that appeals to you, another world opens up.”

Luckily, you don’t need to spend very much money to do so. No matter if you’re just starting to explore the variety or simply want to support a well-developed Chardonnay habit. We rounded up our favorite bottles under $20 below.

Best Crisp Chardonnay

Peter Zemmer 2022 Chardonnay Chardonnay (Alto Adige)

This Alpine Chardonnay shows the beauty of bright sun and cool nights opening with aromas of lemon curd and baked apple with subtle notes of crushed stone and pressed flowers. The layered palate offers quince, pear and a flinty minerality yielding a textural complexity to the wine. A wine suited for the main stage of the dinner table. 91 points. Best Buy. — Jeff Porter

$13.99 Total Wine

Louis Latour 2020 Chameroy (Mâcon-Villages)

This wine greets the nose with subtle aromas of freshly cut red apple and lemon wedges. Bright acidity and distinct salinity bring life to notes of pear, vanilla and white mushroom on the palate. Enjoy now. 89 points. Best Buy. — Anna-Christina Cabrales

$21 Wine.com

Bouchard Aîné & Fils 2022 Héritage Du Conseiller Chardonnay (Vin de France)

Well-balanced and bright, this elegant and medium-bodied Chardonnay boasts floral notes on the nose. The palate is rich with vanilla, lemon and peach notes, offers medium tannins and a generous finish. 92 points. Best Buy.

$12.95 Longs Wines

J. Lohr 2022 Riverstone Chardonnay (Arroyo Seco)

Though the production level of this wine is rather massive, the quality does not suffer. Aromas of lemon chiffon cake and wet stone are engaging on the nose. The palate starts with a tantalizing acidity and stony texture, giving edge to the richer cream and vanilla-meringue flavors that arise by the finish. 92 points. Best Buy.— Matt Kettmann

$13.97 Wine.com

Best Unoaked Chardonnay

Montes 2022 Limited Selection Unoaked Chardonnay (Aconcagua Costa)

This unoaked Chardonnay has a nose of lime and sweet peach, with a touch of salt. Citrus acidity injects energy into the lightweight palate that offers stone fruit flavors. Enjoy now with your favorite summer salad. 90 points. Best Buy. — Jesica Vargas

$17 Best Buy Liquors

Best Oakey Chardonnay

Buttercup 2022 Chardonnay (California)

This wine is bright, lush with aromas of green papaya, apricot, apple, citrus blossom and cinnamon on the nose. Flavors of baked apple and pineapple are interwoven with orange-vanilla cream, mineral and a juicy, dry finish. Pair with grilled mahi mahi, tropical fruit salad and parsley. 93 points. Best Buy. — Tonya Pitts

$12.99 Taylor's Wine Shop

Gen5 2022 Chardonnay (Lodi)

This wine is rich, with aromas of ripe Yellow apple, pear, toasty vanilla, and orange zest on the nose. The flavors on the palate are Golden Delicious apple, White nectarine, mulled spices layered with orange vanilla cream, mineral and a crisp finish. Pair with Pasta with Cream Sauce. 91 points. Best Buy. — T.P.

$14.99 Wine.com

More Chardonnay Coverage

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The post It’s Time to Revisit Chardonnay (Yes, Chardonnay) With These Under $20 Bottles appeared first on Wine Enthusiast.



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