One of the world's great wines, Chardonnay is the variety behind the famed white wines of Burgundy. Often referred to as the wine-maker's wine, Chardonnay generally flourishes in a variety of situations, producing wonderful fruit that is evocative of the terroir, without the pungent thiols exhibited by Sauvignon Blanc or the racy acidity of Riesling. And so on.
Instead, Chardonnay provides a relatively neutral canvas for winemakers to work with. So many variables: the type of yeast, lees stirring, use of barrel, size of barrel, type of barrel, time in barrel, temperature in barrel, no barrel, malolactic fermentation... the list of options goes on. With all of that present in the winemaker's arsenal, it comes as no surprise that the resulting wines encompass a wide variety of styles, which in itself provides the consumer with a few challenges.
At Glengarry we divide Chardonnays into four styles: Oak Lite (lean, lively and minerally inclined), Peaches & Cream, (soft and fruity), Deep & Meaningful (rich, textural and balanced) and Fat Cats (big, bold and oaky). A sort of general guide, then, that might connect you to your preferred style of Chardonnay.
