Chardonnay is one of the wine world’s most recognized grapes. Its track record of producing some of the worlds finest whites has made it an extremely (and internationally) popular among winemakers hoping to produce head-turning bottlings as well as producers aiming for high volume and value. Featured in this Tasting Highlights are Chardonnays made around the globe, from classic regions like Burgundy’s Mâconnais and Californian's Russian River Valley to South Africa and beyond. Even better, these wines come with relatively wallet-friendly prices ($50 or less, to be more precise).
Thanks to its ability to adapt to a range of climatic conditions, and its tendency for vigorous growth, Chardonnay is comparatively easy to cultivate. This also means it can yield a variety of styles depending on where it's grown. Wine Spectator's tastings reflect this diversity and versatility: In 2023, our editors blind-tasted more than 1,100 Chardonnays from a wide spectrum of regions.
This lineup includes Copaín's Chardonnay Sonoma Coast 2021, one of the top scorers, which shows peach, cream and lemon mint notes. Read on to get our score and full tasting note for this wine and 10 others!
Tasting Highlights' wine reviews are fresh out of the tasting room, offering a sneak peek of our editors' most recent ratings—including scores and full tasting notes—to WineSpectator.com members.
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