Chardonnay Best Buys/Taste

[Sasha Henderson]

I am serving Thanksgiving dinner at my house for appx 20 people. I would like to serve a good tasting, but reasonable priced Chardonnay. Can you recommend several to choose from? I have been told Kendal-Jackson or Sutter Home?

[anna]

I would pass on the K-J and look for Estancia chardonnay. I'm not a big chardonnay fan, but I like this one because it has a good balance of pineapply/tropical fruit flavors and the oak/vanilla/butter flavors -- usually the oak tends to be overdone for my taste in other chards.

Best of all -- I've seen it as low as $7.50 at the warehouse clubs. You should be able to find this wine anywhere.

[Jerry D Mead]

In the value arena...check for Hahn Estate or Chateau St. Jean "Sonoma County."

You don't list your hometown in your profile...which is always helpful in giving us an idea what wines might be available in your locale. Every wine isn't distributed everywhere.

[Bucko]

1998 Callaway, Chardonnay, Temecula Valley, $10, 125,000 cases. A good value wine displaying peachy overtones, with nice balance and crispness. Should have good distribution with that many cases produced.

Bucko

[Randy Caparoso]

My favorite best buys for California Chardonnay at the moment include the 1997 Heron ($10-$12), 1997 Gallo "Stefani" ($14-$16), 1997 Fess Parker ($15-$17), 1997 Fetzer "Reserve" ($14-$16), and the 1997 Justin ($19-$22). All have proven themselves by showing very well in blind tastings; and all have the requisite creamy or meltingly buttery texture, and smoky/appley nuances, to make your buttery crisped, roasted stuffed turkey fly like an eagle (with apologies to Stevie Miller)!