Hello Chardonnay lovers! I've launched Channel Memberships! Click the 'Join Button' to see the perks. I'm most excited about a monthly Live Stream Hangout/Tasting for those who join the Grand Reserve tier! Thank you so much: www.youtube.com/@drmatthewhorkey/join

When I first started my wine journey, I thought I didn’t like Chardonnay, so we asked the Sommelier at our local amazing French restaurant to send us half a dozen Chardonnays that he thought showed the full range of styles for Chardonnay. Turns out I liked them all, and I LOVE Chardonnay in lots of instances! The best wine I’ve ever tasted was also in that box - Premier Cru Côte de Lechet Chablis from Daniel-Etienne Defaix. My favorite Champagne is also all Chardonnay - Doyard Blanc de Blancs, and I’ve had incredible bottles from Australia and Italy as well; Mount Eden and Montelena from CA are also great! But for budget I love Chardonnay from Argentina, (Zuccardi Q and Zolo make some great cheaper bottles) and nothing beats House of Brown unoaked out of CA for the money!

@drmatthewhorkey

16 күн бұрын

Chardonnay can be so loveable! One of the world’s great grapes

@LadyAceRoxy

16 күн бұрын

Agreed! We did an anti ABC night at my house for the ladies in the neighborhood (we have regular wine nights together) and I showed them varied styles of Chardonnay and how to pair them with foods. Their favorite thing was buttery Chardonnay (we did Mondavi) with buttery popcorn! Chardonnay is so versatile!

Sha-Hay-Lem .. sorry, but it's also a style I prefer as I get older .. less butter, more steel

@drmatthewhorkey

Ай бұрын

Steellleeey Riesling! 🤤

I am far more a red drinker, but my wife is strictly a chardonnay fan thus leading me down a path of finding the ideal chardonnay for her palate. Having tried nearly 60 CA chards, one of the best values we found is from the Russian River area of CA: River Road Reserve Un-Oaked Sur Lie Aged Chardonnay (approx $17 USA). Classic citrus/lemony initial tartness yet fresh, smooth & buttery with a long finish. Our favorite CA chardonnays: 2020 Robert Young Estate Clone 17; 2020 Meyer Family Cellars Elke Vineyard, Ettore Pure 2019. All three are considerably more pricey

@drmatthewhorkey

Ай бұрын

Nice!! Two different preferences in the house can mean more open bottles

My favorite white wine is from the Burgundy region of Graves in France and you can find great bottles just under $20 and rated over 90 plus. Outstanding and pretty complex for the price.

@drmatthewhorkey

21 күн бұрын

The Graves is awesome. I love White Bordeaux

Another great video! Love these blind taste videos and would also love a video on Port's. Would love to know some recommendations and even a blind taste!

@drmatthewhorkey

Ай бұрын

There are a few videos on the channel about Port! I love it too

I do like Chardonnay and a wine that's tart. Hopefully, I'll be able to find that Chehalem that you recommend. Thanks for tips.

@drmatthewhorkey

Ай бұрын

🙏🙏🙏

Bread & Butter 2021 is quite enjoyable. I tried it in my recent WSET 2 course

@drmatthewhorkey

Ай бұрын

As long as you like it!

@CoFFEEmaTT123

Ай бұрын

@@drmatthewhorkeylol

Randomly Chahalem used WA fruit for that vintage due to issues with their usual Oregon fruit, but I also thought the bottle was super consistent and showed really well. Drank it last year down in OR and loved it

@drmatthewhorkey

Ай бұрын

It is delish!

At these prices I like most South African Chardonnays; and Spanish from El Coto Finca Carbonera and Bodegas Arzuaga Fan D'Oro

@drmatthewhorkey

Ай бұрын

😮😮

You seem to have wines which you score highly in general, I like that in this one you had some which were not so good.

@drmatthewhorkey

28 күн бұрын

Thank you! It does happen

KJ Chard is my standard. I frequently try others, but If I spend $25-$50 I want to know I’m getting something better than KJ and more often than not, I don’t. Unlike some others, my Chardonnay coming from a supermarket does not bother me at all. I also spent a lot learning that Chard coming from foreign countries and with names I can’t pronounce correctly does not ensure better wine. When dining out, if KJ is available that’s what I order. It’s consistent, predictable, and pleasing to my palate.

@drmatthewhorkey

13 күн бұрын

At the end of the day a lot of people like it - there’s a reason that it’s popular

Damn basic chardonnays at a decent quality in germany start at around 8€. Good quality stuff for example from the Pfalz are around 12-20€. Even good Chablis at the german/french border is 14-20€

@drmatthewhorkey

Ай бұрын

Yes!! In the EU though, USA prices aren’t as friendly

I’ll be in Chablis in a few weeks, and plan on tasting (and drinking) lots of Petit Chablis. William Fevre is a favorite, but not easy to find in the States.

@drmatthewhorkey

Ай бұрын

Niceeee have fun

I used to be team ABC, but now more firmly on team AAC, ha! It is a wine that can be made in so many styles that you can find one to please just about any kind of wine drinker. I tend to prefer leaner and more minerally ones; while my wife likes more buttery and vanilla ones. So we have a bit of variety in our house. Interestingly, I tasted one Enate's Chardonnay's from Somontano and I was pleasantly surprised, as I didn't know Spanish Chard could be so good. Kendall Jackson's Chard was better than I expected and it wasn't over done, a bit on the heavier side but still balanced. Central/Eastern Europe are getting better at Chardonnay and the good ones remind me of a Macon Villages or the exceptionally great ones of a Montagny or a Rully. I like Hungarian Chard fermented and aged in local oak, as there is more mid-palate density and texture. I think I agree that generally new oak works better with white wines than red ones. I am looking forward to the barrel fermented whites tasting. Cheers and great video!

@drmatthewhorkey

Ай бұрын

Serbia is a country that I believe does the variery exceptionally well

Almost always go with unoaked; either Cru ($17) or Bliss ($13), but Ca'Momi ($16) somehow managed to turn that buttery vanilla into tangerine, which I really enjoyed.

@drmatthewhorkey

Ай бұрын

It’s all good if you like it

I am on the ABC train HARD unless it is of high quality, like a Chablis or Burg. It is really about balance and most Chards out there are just not! Otherwise, I prefer Riesling, SB, or almost any other white that is unoaked or oaked with balance like some White Bords. Great video!

@drmatthewhorkey

Ай бұрын

Riesssslinngggg!!!

That Vintners Reserve cost me $12 here in Arkansas. I prefer the Columbia Crest Grand Estate Chardonnay though to be honest in that price range.

@drmatthewhorkey

Ай бұрын

😮

The age old question when producing chardonnay . To 'wood' or not to 'wood'. I personally prefer other whites to chardonnay but do rather like the creamier buttery aspect that can be achieved via battonage. Nice work Matt !

@drmatthewhorkey

Ай бұрын

🙏🙏

I'll try almost any unoaked Chardonnay.

@robdielemans9189

Ай бұрын

Check Germany and Northern Italy for great under €20,- finds.

@user-mb1hg4qu9f

Ай бұрын

@robdielemans9189 a good thought, thank you!

@drmatthewhorkey

Ай бұрын

👍🏼💪🏼

I find Chardonnay extreme: it can be the best thing in the world (great Burgundy or Arbois), but it's also the most awful, cheap, vanilla-oaked BS you can find. It's the polar opposite of Sauvignon Blanc, a wine that is almost never great but almost never disappoints. From what I have been able to find, the best value for money are in Macon (a region of Burgundy, you can find these for less than 20$ in the US) and in Long Island, NY, which makes excellent, Burgundy type Chardonnay for 25-30$ a bottle. Still, while Burgundy is expensive, it is much better value in Chardonnay than in Pinot Noir. CA offers great Pinot Noir at interesting prices (especially the coastal regions like Monterrey and Santa Barbara), but the CA Chardonnay suck in general, often even when they are expensive. In Burgundy it's kind of the reverse, the reds are too expensive but the whites are still relatively good value for money.

@drmatthewhorkey

Ай бұрын

Your last line is TRUTH!

@evanspiteri3576

Ай бұрын

Any producers in particular that you like for White Burgundy or from Long Island? I've been searching for awhile and have enjoyed some Chards from Willamette Valley OR but haven't tasted much from Burgundy or the East Coast.

@fredericperrin3279

Ай бұрын

@@evanspiteri3576 For Long Island, I like Pellegrini Vineyards, Wölffer Estate and Channing Daughters (the last one often does blends, many of which are great). For Burgundy I would need to check my cellar, can't remember exactly by memory!

@evanspiteri3576

28 күн бұрын

@@fredericperrin3279 Thank you so much for the reply, I'll check them all out. Wanting to get into Burgundy but the pricing looks outrageous. I also have no experience with the region so It's hard to know what to look for for "value".

@guermeisterdoodlebug7980

13 күн бұрын

Shows how different people are. I keep trying, but hardly ever find a Sauvignon blanc I like. Much better luck with Chards.

Hunting for good Chardonnay can be a expensive and disappointing venture, much like Pinot Noir for reds. Recently I had an excellent Austrian Chardonnay (labeled Morillon) from Lackner-Tinnacher, the Ried Flamberg. A highlight during a recent trip to Vienna. There it retails at around 35-40€. I also tried the Ried Eckberg from the same producer, also very good and costs around 22-25€.

@drmatthewhorkey

Ай бұрын

I do love the Austrian name for Chardonnay!

Interesting, Im a big fan of the Enate. Strange to see it score so low I wonder if its bottle variation or a vintage issue?

@drmatthewhorkey

Ай бұрын

Yes I know me too but that is what happens sometimes in blind tasting

@itsmederek1

Ай бұрын

@@drmatthewhorkey Oh absolutely! The fact that something strange happens and you still stand by your results is imo the pillar of your format. The fact that this happens in one video actually elevates ALL of the videos in your catalogue in my opinion.

@drmatthewhorkey

29 күн бұрын

🙏🙏🙏 just keeping it real… A rarity in wine media IMO

@itsmederek1

26 күн бұрын

@@drmatthewhorkey I think you underestimate yourself. You are one of the 5 most successful wine youtubers there are. This means you are not only normalizing honesty by blind tasting but also setting a vital standard. I am proud to see your channel grow as a wine lover, because I wish not only for your personal success(which you deserve) but also the improvement to the entire industry that channels like you, KB MW and 'Wine for the People' represent.

Airen…….for brandy, sherry, and for blending. (Thank you WSET training!!). I’m an A. B. C. guy, always buy Chardonnay. 😎. We just did a Chardonnay tasting for my group. They all had to come from New Zealand. Had one that was good for $20.

@drmatthewhorkey

Ай бұрын

There are some very good dry Airens being made too

@adamg.manning6088

24 күн бұрын

Are you certain Airen is used in Sherry.? That’s the first I’ve heard of it and I just completed Level 3.

@carlcadregari7768

24 күн бұрын

@@adamg.manning6088I’m pretty sure it’s used as the one of the neutral spirits in the fortification process.

@carlcadregari7768

22 күн бұрын

@@adamg.manning6088I’m pretty sure arien is used as on of the grape spirits used to fortify sherry.

@carlcadregari7768

22 күн бұрын

@@adamg.manning6088I’m pretty sure airien is used as a grape spirit to fortify sherry.

It's not under $20 dollars, but a great California Chardonnay in the richer style is Mt. Eden. Highly recommended!

@drmatthewhorkey

Ай бұрын

Love it! And the Cab

@ikopysitsky

Ай бұрын

@@drmatthewhorkey Me too! I would love to see you do a video on the Santa Cruz Mountains wine region. The wines can be outrageously good.

@drmatthewhorkey

29 күн бұрын

Big fan of them too

Is the most planted Ugni blanc? Or was Airen? Or are those the same thing? Lol...

@andrewbennett6089

Ай бұрын

it's Airén, but no one really hears about it as a wine grape. Apparently it's not even great as a wine grape and used for other things.

@itsmederek1

Ай бұрын

@@andrewbennett6089 Its used for brandy just like ugni blanc, thats why I was wondering if they were names for the same variety

@andrewbennett6089

Ай бұрын

@@itsmederek1 It looks like no, they are different grapes

@drmatthewhorkey

Ай бұрын

They are not the same. Airen was often used in blends but there are some very good examples being made!

Ever since people started naming their daughters 'Chardonnay' I've had a bit of a problem. 😖

@drmatthewhorkey

Ай бұрын

What??????!!!!

@welshtoro3256

Ай бұрын

@@drmatthewhorkey Yep, it's a thing over here. I'm putting my snob hat on but there are some really crappy names that sum up modern society. Chardonnay is a classic.

@drmatthewhorkey

Ай бұрын

😮 🤯

How often are California growers-even good ones-adding citric acid?

@drmatthewhorkey

Ай бұрын

It’s legal in every wine country and many regions to correct acidity

@CoFFEEmaTT123

Ай бұрын

@@drmatthewhorkey right, but is it common? I feel like I’ve had a few $40 Sonoma chardonnays that are bright and clean, but the acidity kind of tastes like lemon juice. It’s not really integrated. I’m just curious if it’s a secret sauce practice that no one would actually admit to.

@drmatthewhorkey

29 күн бұрын

A LOT more common than most know

Hard to get a good Australian Chardonnay for under $30 AUD. 👍👍

@drmatthewhorkey

Ай бұрын

Aussie wines aren’t cheap

@blaircalvin5025

Ай бұрын

@@drmatthewhorkey No they are not. And Aussie whisky is very expensive.

Hm... you can buy a lot of perfect, tasty Chardonnay in Hungary in the most Supermarket under 10$!!!

@drmatthewhorkey

Ай бұрын

igen!

@lorandgulacsi4871

Ай бұрын

@@drmatthewhorkey I'm so sorry, forgot even, you are really the best!!!! 😀 You know everything ... ;-)

@drmatthewhorkey

Ай бұрын

Def NOT everything hahah

Chardonnay is fantastic when done in a proper manner. Too many Chardonnay is done in a manipulated fashion…in other words the way the sales department wants it made🤮.

@drmatthewhorkey

Ай бұрын

😮😮😮

Too buttery and salty for me

@drmatthewhorkey

Ай бұрын

😮😮

Chardonnay is fine. A friend opened a Coche Dury meursault Perrieres a few weeks ago. While drinking it I thought to myself “this is excellent but I’d rather he opened a clos ste hune”. Of course I kept this thought to myself. And of course I was extremely grateful for the opportunity to taste the wine. My point is even the greatest Chardonnays fail to thrilll me the way great Riesling does. Except for great blanc de blancs champagne.

@drmatthewhorkey

Ай бұрын

Ohhhh CSH 🤤

Surely the most planted white grape variety in the world is Sauvignon Blanc

@drmatthewhorkey

Ай бұрын

It’s Airen from Spain

@Devppp

Ай бұрын

@@drmatthewhorkey huh well the more I know then

I wish you were a little more honest with your tastings. We both know that Kendall Jackson is a recipe wine or as some say created by science. People like it so much because you can find it in almost any restaurant.

@joesantamaria5874

Ай бұрын

He tasted blind, liked the wine. How is that dishonest? He even said others poopoo the stuff, but he likes it.

@drmatthewhorkey

Ай бұрын

I tasted blind, that’s what happens

As someone who lives in the Willamette Valley, what is the point of purposely mispronouncing it? Why not just mispronounce everything and get everyone annoyed if you are going to go that route.

@drmatthewhorkey

Ай бұрын

👍🏼

@sirthalface

Ай бұрын

Good lord relax it’s not that serious

@sandyborzillo8595

Ай бұрын

Lighten up Francis

@FlintIronstag23

Ай бұрын

@@sirthalface I didn't even mention his mispronunciation of Chehalem because that was more understandable for someone not from Oregon. Willamette is not hard to pronounce correctly, and he does know how to say it but chooses not to. Why not start calling Champagne Cham-PAG-knee or Rioja RYE-o-jay or Sonoma SON-o-may and see what reactions he can get from people.

Crocodile's Lair Chardonnay by Bouchard Finlayson 🇿🇦 is great value

@drmatthewhorkey

Ай бұрын

😮😮😮😮🙏🙏