Chardonnay is the world's most popular white wine. If Cabernet Sauvignon is synonymous with red wine, then Chardonnay is synonymous with white wine, which plays an immeasurable role in white wine.
Chardonnay's characteristics in different countries will not be exactly the same. Chardonnay wines from cool regions often have flavours such as apples and pears, wines from warm regions have flavors such as citrus and melon, and wines from hot regions have flavors of tropical fruits such as pineapple and mango. With the different winemaking processes - malolactic fermentation, oak maturation, puree stirring, wild yeast fermentation... And so on, it can also show a different taste. For this reason, Chardonnay is also known as the "Queen of Change", which provides a very large space for winemakers to play, and the finished wine is bland and colorful.
Recently, the world's largest wine search site Wine Searcher has compiled the top 10 highest-rated and best Chardonnay wines based on the average rating on the website, and the following is a detailed list:
Let's take a look at the details:
1. Ovina Knight - Monhachet Grand Garden dry white
Leroy Domaine d'Auvenay Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru
Domaine d' Auvenay is the second winery managed and fully owned by The Lord of Domaine Leroy, Mrs. Lalou Bize-Leroy. The winery is small and produces small, but the wines produced are of exceptional quality. Like Lehua, Ovina also uses biodynamic methods to grow grapes, without the use of chemicals at all, following the laws of nature. Madame Larou's personality of dedication, persistence, meticulousness and perfection is also reflected in this wine.
Looking at the historical ratings of this wine, you will find that it is a regular with a full score of wine. The 2000, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 vintages received 20 out of 10 ratings from La Revue du Vin de France, the 1999, 2010, 2015, 2016 vintages received a perfect rating from Parker, and other vintages were also high scores, almost perfectly acclaimed.
As can be seen on wine-searcher, this dry white has an average score of 98 points, which is one of the highest rated wines on Wine Searcher, but its international pre-tax average price is also as high as 200,000 yuan / bottle, which is the third most expensive wine in the world. Renowned wine critic Jancis Robinson described the 2000 vintage as "known for its concentration, vibrancy and dazzlingly high prices".
2. The Ovinakilt-Bata-Monhachet Grand Park is dry
Leroy Domaine d'Auvenay Criots-Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru
The heat of the wine seems to be coming up. The 2018 vintage was still No. 4 on the list, and this time it was promoted to No. 2 on the list, which is the second wine on the list of Ovina, worthy of the winery ruled by the Iron Lady. The average international pre-tax price is 160,000 yuan / bottle, of course, the quality is also very good, the average score is 97 points, and the history is also a full score of regular customers, or almost full scores, of course, the number of full scores is not as much as the first one.
3. Cochicoden-Charlemagne Park is dry
Coche-Dury Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru
Located in the village of Meursault in the Cote de Beaune appellation in Burgundy, France, Domaine Coche-Dury is one of the region's top wineries. The winery has a long history dating back to the 1920s. The Winemaking and Culture method is simple, including light pressing, aged for 18 to 20 months in French Allier oak barrels (top wines only) with a maximum barrel proportion of 50%, followed by 2 separations without filtration before bottling.
This wine occupies an important place on the list of ultra-noble Burgundy white wines. Jess Robinson gave the wine a high score of 19 out of 19 (out of 20) for wines from different vintages (such as 1999, 2009 and 2012), and the 1990 vintage also received a 100 point from Parker. Overall, the wine has an average score of 96. The quality is very good, but the price is somewhat high, and the average international pre-tax price is 42,000 yuan / bottle.
4. La Fang Meng Ha Xie Special Grade Garden dry white
Domaine des Comtes Lafon Montrachet Grand Cru
Domaine des Comtes Lafon is the Burgundy Meursault Worship Winery, king of Meursault, and the top ten most expensive Chardonnay dry whites list all year round. The book The Wines of Burgundy by master winemaker Clive Coates MW includes the Lafon winery and names it a "three-star winery", and only 7 wineries in the Bernchu appellation have received a "three-star winery" rating, and the Laffon winery is one of them.
The book "The Complete Book of the World's Top Wines and Wineries" by the world-famous wine critic Robert Parker also includes the Lafang winery, which praises: "The Chardonnay of Lafang is the textbook of Burgundy dry white. ”
Currently, the Château Lafon vineyard covers an area of 13.8 hectares spread across 15 appellations, with an average age of 25-50 years. The winery promotes the principle of respect for nature and the biodynamic law. After reaching optimum ripeness, the grapes are harvested entirely by hand. The low-yield, ripe grapes, and completely uninterested winemaking process are considered the winemaking guidelines of Château Lafon.
The average score of this wine is 96 points, the average international pre-tax price is about 20,000 yuan / bottle, and it is also a regular customer who has obtained 98 and 99 points for many years.
5. Ovina Meursault Valley First Class Garden dry white
Leroy Domaine d'Auvenay Les Gouttes d'Or
The wine grapes are produced in Les Gouttes d'Or, a tier 1 vineyard in the village of Meursault, and the finished wine has a solid mineral atmosphere that pales many Monthachet wines. The price of the wine has been rising over the past five years, and now the international pre-tax average price has reached 73,000 yuan per bottle, while its supply is decreasing. The average score is 97!
6. Mark Collin Father and Son Winery Mon ha xie special grade garden dry white
Domaine Marc Colin et Fils Montrachet Grand Cru
It is also one of the top burgundy estates in Burgundy, and it was named the highest "three-star winery" in the list of the top 100 Burgundy wineries in 2020 by Bourgogne Aujour d'hui.
This wine has an average score of 96 points and an average price of 6,619 yuan / bottle, which is "high" compared with the previous models. This is a full-bodied and mellow Monthachet wine with a pronounced minerality. Perfect in every way, rounded and balanced, with a charming mineral atmosphere, the wine is very strong.
7. Pitt Mike Winery Red Dot Chardonnay Dry White
Peter Michael Point Rouge Chardonnay, Sonoma County
Founded in 1982 by British entrepreneur Sir Peter Michael, Pitt Mike Winery is ranked among the best 22 California wineries in Parker's book The World's Top Wineries and Wineries. Since the 1995 vintage, at least 14 wines, whether cabernet sauvignon blends, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, have received robert parker ratings of 98 or higher, and several have received a 100 out of 100 rating. This Chardonnay 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 all received Parker's 100 points of affirmation. Overall, the wine has an average score of 96 points and an average price of 3,119 yuan, which is also a relatively "cost-effective" wine.
If we talk about the reason for its high quality, it is closely related to the way it is brewed. All wine grapes at PittMac Winery are harvested by hand and meticulously sorted. In the late 1980s, the winery pioneered fermentation using natural yeast and grapes, resulting in more complex fruity aromas and amazing textures, roundness and deep aftertastes. All of the winery's top wines, including Chardonnay wines, are not filtered before bottling, as filtration is harmful to the aging process of Chardonnay wines.
8. Conscard's judgment of Chardonnay
Kongsgaard The Judge Chardonnay, Napa Valley
Parker once described: "Conscard pursues a holy grail wine, and its wine is very interesting and natural. The New York Times also said, "Conscard has always insisted on brewing The Chardonnay, the best in California." "The winery has always been known for producing Chardonnay, which is rich in texture and elegant.
Trial Chardonnay Dry White has always been the master wine of the Conscard winery, producing no more than 2,000 bottles a year and is the standard garage wine. In 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017, it received a 100-point rating from the Parker team. For the 2013 vintage, Parker once called it "one of the greatest Chardonnay wines I've tasted." The average rating of this wine is 95 points, and the average international pre-tax price is 5,544 yuan per bottle.
9. Knight of Le Flay - Mon hachasser Grand Garden
Domaine Leflaive Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru
Domaine Leflaive(Domaine Leflaive), also known as the "double chicken", has been the top worship of wine lovers around the world for many years, and its dry white production of Mon Ha Xie Yuan has repeatedly ranked in the top three of WS's "50 drunken wines in the world", which can be called the world's most expensive dry white.
It was founded in 1920 and is known for producing the finest Chardonnay white wines. Only Chardonnay is planted in its vineyards. The winery adheres to the biodynamic method, and the Chardonnay white wines are fragrant, smooth in texture, firm in flavor, with great ageing potential, and the rich mineral flavors shared by Burgundy's fine white wines. The average rating of this wine is 95 points, and the average international pre-tax price is 8,722 yuan per bottle.
10. Aubert Estate Lauren Garden Chardonnay Dry White
Aubert Wines Lauren Vineyard Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast
Mark Aubert, owner of Aubert Wines, was highly praised for his debut on the cover of Wine Watcher magazine in July 2018. Kim Marcus, senior editorial director, praised: "Over the past 20 years, Mark Obert has worked tirelessly toward the goal of making California Chardonnay comparable to Burgundy's white wines. Now, he has become a master. "At present, the winery has a total of 8 Chardonnay wines, each of which is performing very well.
In March of this year, Sacklin posted: "Aubert Chardonnay Sonoma County Sonoma Coast Lauren Estate 2018 (JS 100) is one of the greatest wines I tasted in California in 2020." Unparalleled in complexity and structure, it's perhaps one of America's greatest Chardonnays of all time, combining structure and depth with incredible drinkability. "In JS's 2018 Vintage Napa Valley report, Aubert Château 3 Chardonnays occupy the top five positions, receiving high ratings of 100 and 99!
And this Laurent Garden Chardonnay dry white from this Aubert winery is one of the most popular wines in the region. Its 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 vintages all received full parker scores and other famous points. With an average rating of 95 points and an average international pre-tax price of 1,488 yuan per bottle, it is the cheapest and most affordable wine among the 10 Chardonnay dry whites.