What is the difference between these two wines

[Innkeeper]

Hi Newtowine, and welcome to the Wine Board. The relationship is that they are made from the same grape. French Burgundy varies greatly from the flinty, steely Chablis of the north, to the luxurious and expensive wines of the Cote D'Or such as Meursault and Montrachet, to the pure varietal chardonnay of the Maconnaise in the south.

California Chardonnay strives to emulate the expensive stuff. This results in bold, fruit forward wine, usually well laced with oak. The reason for the oak as far as I can tell is that M&Ms and their like are aged in old oak barrels, so they have a hint of oak amongst their complexity. Somehow, California vinters have decided that this is the "secret" of fine chardonnay. Several influential wine writers got on this band wagon, and here we are.