Our Top US Chardonnays

97 Points - Stuart McCloskey "By far, the standout wine from the Talbott samples which I received. The nose unfolds with some aeration but retains its tight, mineral and steely fresh character – a nutty character unfolds after a while. The palate offers a degree of richness but has a tight and elegant core which is most attractive. Buttered citrus, stone fruits and tropical layers in abundance with touches of toast and oak. The mouthfeel and textural grip are impressive which support the wine’s overall harmonious balance. Lovely acidity and vitality which contrasts beautifully with the ripe fruit and toasty, mealy flavours. This is just beginning to show its full potential and will comfortably cellar for 5+ years. Excellent and served using Zalto Bordeaux glassware."

92+ Points - Antonio Galloni "Liquid Farm's 2015 Chardonnay La Hermana is a blend of fruit from Bien Nacido, Solomon Hills and Dierberg. Intensely pointed and saline, it will need a bit more time in bottle to be at its most expressive. In keeping with its Santa Maria origins, La Hermana is the most finely cut and chiseled of the Liquid Farm Chardonnays."

92-94 Points - Antonio Galloni (Vinous) "Orange peel, smoke, spices, mint and apricot pit flesh out in the 2013 Chardonnay Camp Meeting Ridge Vineyard. Bold and textured in its flavors but classically mid-weight in style, the 2013 captures a hugely attractive middle ground."

99 Points - Stuart McCloskey

The 2014 Chanin Sanford & Benedict Chardonnay has a terrific purity and class. With aromas and flavours of white peach, stone fruits, white flowers and toasted bread it is elegant and balanced, with both richness and freshness - a classic, and beautifully made Chardonnay.

96 Points - Robert Parker "The 2013 Chardonnay Ross Station Estate displays clean quince, white currant, honeysuckle and pineapple notes, a touch of hazelnut, and a full-bodied, rich, concentrated, multi-layered mouthfeel. This is another brilliant Chardonnay to drink over the next 4-6 years."

96+ Points - Lisa Perrotti-Brown (erobertparker.com)  "The 2014 Chardonnay Estate Vineyard reveals very pretty notes of peach blossoms and candied ginger over a core of nectarines, acacia honey, baking bread and marzipan. Medium-bodied with a silken texture and wonderful intensity of yeasty/savory flavors, it has a great frame of freshness and epic length. A beautiful, truly elegant style. "

David Schildknecht (robertparker.com) "The Eyrie 2011 Chardonnay – harvested October 26 – is dominated by bright, juicy grapefruit and lime tinged with their piquant pips as well as with saliva-liberating salinity. Straight and penetrating as an arrow; amazingly buoyant (but then, there’s only 11.7% alcohol!); refreshing yet richly lees-inflected, this wine’s textural allure and length would be unlikely, I contend, in a Chardonnay that had not gone through malo-lactic conversion and whose malic acid was likely to coarsen and mask fruit and finer points. And anybody who imagines that this conversion is incompatible with a vivaciously and bracingly high acidity and low pH – not to mention with clarity of flavors – just needs to let the wine in question serve as a delicious counterexample! A streak of salinity serves to enhance the mouthwateringly sustained and invigorating finish. This outstanding value is apt to remain riveting through at least 2020 – a prognostication I venture with plenty of track record to back it up."