A Few Chardonnay Questions

[cheeps]

I wasn't sure if I should post this under the varietal threads, but since I'm a novice, I decided to post it here.

I have purchased bottles of various types of wine from different producers and countries to compare the different styles, etc.

At a recent wine tasting I tried an expensive (in my book!) Chardonnay. It was the first time I tasted this type of wine, and I liked the vanilla and "toasty carmel" taste it had so I bought a bottle. It was Chateau Ste Michelle 2001 Indian Wells Vineyard, Columbia Valley. I also have a CA Chardonnay by Bogle from 2000, an inexpensive one from NZ - Lindemans Bin #65 from 2003, and I bought a white burgundy from France, Mâcon-Villages 2001.

I opened the Chateau Ste Michelle Saturday and I hated it! I don't understand what happened because I tasted it at the wine tasting and I liked it then. It was the 3rd wine in the tasting so maybe the others I had first influenced my taste? The bottom line is that I really did not like that rich "buttery" taste on the back of my tongue and in the back of my throat - I literally felt like I was drinking oily melted butter - it was the texture and "thickness" that I didn't like more than the actual taste.

So now I'm concerned that I have 3 unopened bottles of wine I'm going to hate since the taste and texture I don't care for is what makes a Chardonnay. I'm assuming, maybe wrongly, that the CA one from Bogle will be similar to the one I tasted, which I think is from Washington or Oregon. Will the Lindemans from NZ and the French White Burgundy have the same qualities?

I'm having a "wine tasting" at my house with a few friends next week and I was planning on opening the Bogle and Lindemans as my two contributions of wine to compare. I'm not sure now. I suppose tho that the only way to tell is to taste them, but if I know up front they're going to taste the same, I can give them unopened to my sister, who I know likes Chardonnay rather than having them go to waste. TIA!

Lisa