Delicious!
Airfield Estates Unoaked Chardonnay 2008, Washington
Well. This is embarrassing. How many bottles of unoaked does a couple have to drink before landing in Washington? We've traveled as far as Canada, South Africa, Italy, the other side of Australia, for crying out loud and we're just getting to Washington state?

Oops.

We've officially landed and we're pleased to begin the tour with this offering. Light in the first sip, but continuing with a smooth, fresh ride. Never overpowering, no sudden surprises. Just reaching the destination gladly. And the trip? About $12 direct from the vineyard.  

Comme ci, comme ca
Ledson Tres Frais Chardonnay 2008, California
The way our home is arranged required both satellite and cable to provide a television signal to the main house and garage apartment. A configuration problem. Very basic cable in the apartment (guests would just have to make do), satellite service in the house. And don't get started on the evils of television. We enjoy it around here. Reality television? No. Game shows? No. Punditry? No. Almost anything else? Sure, why not? Go 'phins!

But while drinking this wine we decided to cut all the cords. Why? Because we were drowning in television. We had allowed ourselves to drift into the bad habit of click, click, clicking without appreciating anything on the screen. Ten minutes of this cooking program, five minutes of a movie we'd already seen, watching an auto auction because the program we were waiting for hadn't started yet. Yikes!

No apologies. We love TV. But after cutting the cords and installing outdoor antennas, we now either enjoy something the four networks are showing or leave the room. What an enormous relief! And we wouldn't have believed it six months ago, that we would appreciate a simple television set-up. Currently, the video quality is improved, the offerings are free, we plan what we're going to watch (or not), and [sigh] we are relaxed.

What does this have to do with a $32 bottle of wine (ordered from the vineyard, not including shipping)? It is a fruit stand extravaganza. Appealing to many, we're certain, just like some folks have all the premium stations added to their cable package. Too much for us, though. Too much fruit. No balance. Too much input.

Delicious! and Comme ci, comme ca
Kopriva 2008 Chardonnay, California
We could hear the quiet, almost like the quiet that comes late at night after the snow has fallen. No wind. The trees are still. Those times when even the house is done stretching its bones. Such perfect and complete quiet, you can hear it.

What we poured from the very bottle shown was so quiet, so delicate as to be ethereal. Not sweet or spicy, not floral, not tropical. We don't generally contemplate what wine will pair best with what food, but while drinking this we wished for an angel food cake covered in seasonal strawberries and freshly whipped cream.

There is no doubt that this wine offers a light touch that many, many people would appreciate in a social beverage. We prefer something with more earthly presence, but even at that, aren't there times to simply enjoy the peace and quiet? We received this wine for reviewing, but it is available for under $18 from the producer. Peace be with you. 

Delicious!
Round Hill Oak Free Chardonnay 2008, California
There are days when everything just falls into place. From the beginning the sky was clear, the air was crisp, the newspaper landed near the door, headline-ready. And it didn't spell "disaster." There were calls for new projects, a doctor called with good news, did we notice more smiles as we traveled through the market? I think we did! Nothing went wrong with the computer, plans were made to visit with the family, and the strawberries began appearing in the garden, but the mulberry bush has begun daily delivery, so that's good, too. A quiet, simple dinner together, this tasty, flavorful wine to enjoy (a refreshing, flavorful wine for about $12, not including shipping). Just a perfect day.

Or. Maybe we just chose to single out the good things. Either way, the day ended with smiles.

What a great day
After a leisurely weekend morning, we embarked on a hunt for new-to-us unoaked Chardonnays. We browsed the aisles of two wine shops a few neighborhoods over. At Sunset Corners we met Nick, who was particularly enthusiastic about this very website and has promised to keep us informed of wines we should consider reviewing. By lunch we had scored five bottles of wine, unknown to us when the day began, and our reviews will be posted through the coming weeks.

It makes us a little giddy to find new labels, potentially new treasures! If you're in the area, take advantage of the extensive knowledge offered by the folks at Sunset Corners. Tell them we said, "Hi."

Under a crisp sky in the late evening, we boarded our motorcycle (with sidecar, too fun) and headed to South Miami for an evening with friends and family, live music and a picnic under the stars. The intimate event was a fund raiser for the Tropical Audubon Society, a very worthy cause. Music was provided by Jennings & Keller, folk musicians who travel the country sharing their considerable talents. The wine being served at the bar? La Linda 2009. Yes! Unoaked! We can't officially share a review of the wine because we drank it from plastic cups, but it certainly was the right thing for the moment.

Today? Can hardly top yesterday. Today will be laundry day, with a good book and gardening in between loads.

Buy from your local shop. Buy direct from the wineries. Or buy online, laws permitting.
These are a few of the online suppliers we've frequented.

BevMo!      Wine Library      Fine Wine House      Astor Wines       Englewood Wine Merchants      Old Bridge Cellars      Crown Wine & Spirits

In The News: February 2010
The Los Angeles Times news service reports that the California grape industry has reaped its second largest crop in history. The bounty includes 726,000 tons of Chardonnay grapes. Dear Vintners, if you wouldn't mind taking, say, half of those grapes and using them to create, say, unoaked Chardonnay, gosh, we'd appreciate it. And be sure to slap the "unoaked" status right onto the front label. It sure would make the hunt through the aisles easier. Thanks ever.

-- Regards, Tom and Meg, and the faithful readers of Unoaked Chardonnay

Delicious!
Rivino 2008 Chardonnay, California
Here is a truth, even among the Delicious! wines: most need a moment to say "hello." You chill the wine, open the bottle, (breathe, two three four...), pour, take a sip, and there requires a sort of introduction to the senses. Where are we going in this new relationship? How are we going to get along? Will you be smooth and comforting or the life of the party? The character and tone of the relationship doesn't reveal itself until the second sip, is our experience, although Tom and I are far from being Masters Of The Vines. We don't swish and swirl and squishy-spit. We just drink. Apparently wine pros pass through the introduction phase of the relationship through the squishy-spit.

In our simplistic, ordinary consumer way, what we enjoy most about the search for Delicious! unoaked Chardonnays is discovering those wines that need no introduction, that enter our senses with good grace and manners. And that was our experience on this taste-evening. You know why? From the first sip through the last, from the pale golden contents to the uniquely artistic label design, this new friend is simply sublime.

We paid $22, not including shipping. If there is anything about this new relationship that alarms us, it's that the vineyard only produced 285 cases. See? This is what is so vexing about the enjoyment of wine. 285 cases? How long can something this good continue to be available? It won't be, is the sad truth. 

Delicious! and Comme ci, comme ca
Man Vintners 2008 Chardonnay, South Africa
With cases stacked high and proudly at the end of the grocery store aisle, we were intrigued by the label, excited about the low price, but didn't know anything about it from the shelf talker. And information was not forthcoming from the clerks. So we photographed, we investigated, then we picked up a few bottles on our next visit to the market. Why? Turns out only 15% of the juice was set aside for fermentation in American oak. The remaining 85% went stainless, where eventually the entire batch completed fermentation.

Why do we bring it up on this site? Because many stores are carrying it and you might have found yourself wondering, but didn't want to spend (even a small amount) on a bet. Wonder no more. It is about 15% oaky. But it does have more zip than most oaked Chardonnays, it is certainly friendlier than many Chardonnays and if it was the last bottle on the shelf, we'd happily over-chill it and like it enough.

And we have friends who enjoy oak in their wine. At the price ($7) we'd be pleased to gift this along to those people. Could move them 85% closer to enjoying Chardonnay without any oak at all.

Comme ci, comme ca
Sebastiani Unoaked Chardonnay 2008, California
Novellum 2008, France
This was aggravating. Excited to see that Sebastiani had entered the ranks of the unoaked producers. They're a nationally distributed brand. Could this mean we could have easy access to an unoaked Chardonnay on a whim, no matter what town we're visiting? Also, early in our unoaked tasting days, we had tried Novellum 2007 and were disappointed at the oakiness, even though the wine shop owner and the website itself had assured us that Novellum was unoaked. Maybe the first time we tried it, something had gone wrong. We were excited to give this new vintage a try, to see what a difference a year might make.

So one night we tried the Sebastiani. Do you like the taste of oak in your unoaked Chardonnay? Neither do we. And then the next night we tried the Novellum. Do you like the taste of oak in your unoaked Chardonnay? Neither do we.

We've had wine fermented in some oak that were less oaky than these (sigh). Two nights in a row of oaky Chardonnay. Oh well. These wines might be delicious. To someone. But not to us.

Delicious! and Comme ci, comme ca
Villa Lanata Langhe Chardonnay 2007, Italy
This could be the perfect wine for those who don't want sweet Chardonnay or weak Chardonnay or a Chardonnay with (egads) oak. This is a Chardonnay -- this will really fuel a p.c. fire or two -- for a manly-man.

As I uttered, "This is way too strong," Tom smacked his lips, slapped the table top and crowed, "This Is Great!" And let's just say, Tom does eat quiche, because my quiche recipe is excellent (another time), but after a glass of this wine, perhaps the gleam in his eye called for jesters, dancers, a side of beef (skip the silverware) and a brand new Ford 150 pick-up.

So he gives it a Delicious! and I say, so-so. What do I know? I'm just a girl. All that enthusiasm came to about $13 at the Big Box Monument To Alcohol.

Delicious!
Bernardus Précis Unoaked Chardonnay 2008, California
Sometimes, the review is about the wine and what our taste buds experience. Or what was revolving around us at the time we drank the wine and how it fit within that experience. At other times, our reviews are about where the wine takes us. Because some wines will do that. Some wines have a quality that can bring the senses to another place, hopefully a better place. Not a hallucinating place, we must add. Not like that.

I mention this because with the second sip of this wine, we both enjoyed the same sensation -- serenity. Just a peaceful, lovely moment. I was reminded of my childhood, and escaping from a bustling family circle (circus) to my room. I would curl up on the window seat over the warm radiator as the snow blew hard outside, press my face against the cool window pane and become lost in the adventures of Nancy Drew. (Later, same space, but listening to The Beatles.)

It was Tom who identified the wine as "serene," although active child that he was, he could not conjure a serene moment in childhood.

Serenity Now. For about $24, maybe less, not including shipping.   

Delicious!
Tolosa 2007 No-Oak Chardonnay, California
We aren't mall shoppers. I run out of steam before the car is parked, and Tom dislikes the purposeless clutter. When we need something, we head for the crossroads of family-owned shops and find what needs finding, buy what needs buying. We do that, and make use of convenient, online shopping. It's a modern world. We are modern people. In these ways, we shop.

But there is a mall a couple of suburbs over, using the word mall with regret. This development offers the usual suspects, along with chic extras. Nothing special to the pocket-full folks, but dazzling to our eyes. Parking is hidden away and once you walk through the garage into the sunlight (if you didn't arrive by bicycle), you're transported to a happy world, and not in a Disney way. It's substantial; recently built, but timeless all the same. A green commons where people really do sit, read and enjoy a coffee. Fountains. Paths where children run free. Tiers and layers of commerce with dimension. Shops, apartments, cafés, it fills the mind with a smile just for stopping by.

We visit this neo-village occasionally, if only to be transported to something fine and lovely and worthwhile. And sometimes to shop. An afternoon's vacation just up the road. A little vacation in the glass with this wine ($19), too. A refreshing edge, a spirited lift, fine and lovely and worthwhile. (It's not available from our local dealers. Cheers for online shopping!)  

Great News!
As it turns out, you don't have to pour that Yellow Tail Chardonnay down the drain. You know, the one your flavor-deficient pal from junior high gifted? According to a Yellow Tail public relations campaign, that chard can be made palatable with just a few additional ingredients. Yellow Tail Winetails offers cocktail recipes that could make you love Yellow Tail Chardonnay in spite of how much you, as unoaked lovers, hate it. Phew! Besides oak in our Chardonnay, we hate waste.

Delicious!
Plantagenet Omrah 2008 Unoaked Chardonnay, Australia
You know what is less fun than paying taxes? Making the trip from the east coast of the United States to the east coast of Australia. It's a long time in a tube. The trip is made even longer if one in the travel party is a flying phobic. And it's a really long trip for the person who -- thanks to a piece of marriage paper -- must sit alongside of the flying phobic. Except during bathroom breaks. Gosh. Good times, good times.

It is pure truth that drinking and flying just makes the phobia worse. But if that wasn't true -- and again, it is -- we believe this particular wine from Western Australia would make a lovely traveling companion. For the person with flying phobia (did I say that was me?), the fine taste would offer a delicious lift of the spirits. For the person mentally strapped to the flying phobic, enough would offer a delicious passage to oblivion, if only for a while.

Not that we would recommend drinking into oblivion. We heartily do not. We're just saying. If we were saying, this would be a good and companionable friend to make the trip to oblivion.

For the record? The wine was $18 (without shipping from a US distributor). And we have made the trip to Australia several times, flying phobia and all. It has always been worth the effort. That is a trip we also heartily recommend.

Delicious!
Healdsburg Ranches "Unoaked" Chardonnay 2007, California
Bobby Darrin, Beyond The Sea
Andy Williams, Happy Heart
Corinne Bailey Rae, Put Your Records On
Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat, Lucky
The young lady from "Glee" who, it has to be said, did it better than Barbra, Don't Rain On My Parade 

Are there others? Sure. Jill and Kevin's wedding video? If you haven't seen it, get thee to You Tube today. Others? Many. But these are just a few examples of lightweight, publicly available fun that can be steadily relied upon to bring a smile. Make the toes tap. Elicit a happy thought.

A happy wine. A fairly happy $15 tab. It's all good.

Delicious! and Comme ci, comme ca
Morgan Metallico 2007 Un-Oaked Chardonnay, California
We’re glad this doesn’t happen often. Makes shopping simpler. And besides, who wants to sit at the table arguing about the wine? Not us. We have many other time-tested, well-worn areas of disagreement and we’d prefer to simply enjoy the wine while arguing about [insert subject here].

But on this particular evening, Tom loved the wine, sharing that it was rich and bold, while I countered that it was heavy and over-bearing, and with the word Metallico involved, shouldn’t there be a refreshing zing? What happened to the zing? No zing. For 20-bucks and the word Metallico, I want zing. Tom didn’t want zing. He enjoyed this wine‘s formality.

So put on a tux, for cryin’ out loud, suddenly we're ditching the sandals and getting all formal? Although I suppose I could occasion a party dress. Sometimes it's nice to wear a party dress.

I would pour this again, but only if Tom asked. And he would because he enjoyed it that much. I’d use my best manners, as you'd have to because it’s that kind of wine.

Delicious!
Joel Gott Chardonnay Monterey 2007, California
Like this: Putting all the contracts on the table. Reviewing. Discussing. Facing serious business as business involving contracts should be.

Paying attention. Reading between the lines. Asking the right questions since we are the ones who need to know these things. Can’t blame the lawyer because we didn’t understand the terms.

Serious. Business. Full-bodied (now we’re about the wine). Stout in presentation, stout in flavor, if that word can apply to a Chardonnay. No indication on the front or back label that this is an unoaked wine. It’s powerful, it isn’t kidding around. Not a problem.

We wish they would take the stainless feature seriously. We do. Forgiven, though, since we got it on sale for $13 (usually more like $15). Smile!

Delicious!
Pellegrini 2008 Russian River Valley Chardonnay Unoaked,  California updated
Maybe you also live near people who lined their property with speakers, part of an outdoor theatre system for entertaining their teenagers who party until 3a (on an early night), squealing to the most vulgar rap music ever produced.

Isn’t it lovely that an opportunity exists to enjoy something friendly and tasty? We thought so when we drank the 2007 vintage, and we’re pleased to report, this wine still brings a smile in that moment of time belonging only to us. Before the party starts. Again.

Of course, if we were nice neighbors, we’d pick up a bottle ($14), walk over to the neighbors’ home and have a chat with the folks, and maybe in the sharing of wine and smiles, we could also share a dream -- that their teenagers should broaden their horizons and travel the world. Now! And we’d be delighted to help them pack. 

Comme ci, comme ca
Mendoza Station 2008 Chardonnay, Argentina
A fresh lemon rind is presented with artistic flourish, so the bottle practically flings itself into the shopping cart. And why not? It’s beautiful! Can you see a cluster of these beauties on the buffet, surrounded by the sumptuous offerings of the evening? Gorgeous.

Right up until you drink it. The lemon rind so proudly displayed is present in the wine to the point of being astringent. And is there a surprise about that? The wine was $5 at a Big Box Monument To Alcohol.

We have enjoyed inexpensive wine in the past so are not discouraged from trying wines at a similar price point in the future. And, hey, for five bucks, go ahead and give it a try to see what you think. We’re going to use the empty to store corn meal so for us, the purchase wasn’t a complete bust.

Comme ci, comme ca
Star Tree 2008 Chardonnay, South Africa
Tom and I agreed that we had never poured a Chardonnay (unoaked or oaked) with a taste quite like this. It had a nice, pale color. The aroma was fine. It seemed to be everything it should be.

But more. It was something more. And not in a good way. Smooth, but with almost no taste. Lingering, but with something that we wished would go away. It was what it was. In spite of this being a review site, we aren’t pleased to be displeased with a product. But since we couldn’t figure out what we were drinking, we were displeased.

We only know for sure about the price. We paid $8, for whatever it’s worth.

Delicious!
Martin Ray Chardonnay Unoaked 2008, California
With such a grown-up presentation, we wonder how this label found it’s way to our house.

We are way too immature to be considered grown-ups.

Not making waves, this wine just takes care of business. Smooth and creamy? No. Zippy and crispy? No. It’s something in between. Steady and reliable. Calming. Present.

You wear something fine, create peace in your space, light the candles and whisper to no one, “We’ve arrived.” It’s like that.

And whatever that means to each person, the realization feels good. (Around-about $15. Yee haw!)

Delicious!
The Crossings 2008 Marlborough Medway Selection, New Zealand
This was an exercise of endurance.

We’ve occasioned to pour this wine several times for the very purpose of making a review and always, always something got in the way of making notes. Company stopped by, a phone call, a Major News Story, something. And a day or two later, we knew that we had liked it, we just couldn’t remember why.

Here’s why: The wine is simple, flavorful. Vibrant? Enough to be interesting. Certainly tasty and to our knowledge, probably readily available around the states for about $15. (Right? For cryin’ out loud, where’d we put that receipt?) 

Delicious!
Shoofly Chook Raffle Chardonnay 2007, Australia
We were told this was an unoaked Chardonnay so of course our immediate curiosity was, “If you’re already bold and whimsical with the company name, why be shy about the unoaked status? Be loud, be proud, put it on the label!”

Because technically, it’s not unoaked. This wine is “stainless steel fermented with 10% older French oak,” so says the company website.

We don’t know why they bothered with oak at all, but we don’t argue the result. It has all the qualities we look for in unoaked Chardonnay, lifting the spirit with a crisp light, refreshing, taste. And for extra grins? We paid less than $10.

Delicious!
Tapestry McLaren Vale Home Vineyards 2008, Australia
Thoughtful visitor Lindsay H shared her enjoyment of this wine and after tracking it down, we agree with her -- it is a lovely pour. Flavorful, and with just enough zing that one might refer to it as sporty.

Not that you’d think sporty with a look at the label. Why so serious?

Well, why not? Everything can’t be a hoot and a holler, can it? Be delicious and call it a day.

We bought it for less than $15 so that was worth a whirl around the dance floor. Perhaps a lovely gift for the serious person in your world, and they might just find themselves entertaining happy thoughts.

Delicious!
Valley of the Moon Chardonnay Unoaked 2007, California
Deliveries at the door -- items for our daughter-in-law’s fashion business, a couple of movies for the grandchildren, a new lens for the camera, the latest issue of Tom’s favorite magazine. There were projects to be considered -- a party costume, our offerings to a holiday feast (large family, have to plan way ahead), plotting the next incarnation of this very website. And all the while, more than one cell phone was ringing.

Chaos under control, if there is such a thing.

And then the evening’s peace began as we sat on the patio while the sun set. The dog chased the butterflies. The children chased the dog. We chatted about possibilities. We left the cell phones inside.

We were refreshed on a warm evening by the crisp, bright flavor of this wine. (The under $20 price is a bite, but a fair price for a lovely wine.)

Delicious!
Yalumba Unwooded Chardonnay 2008, Australia
It isn’t that Yalumba made us think of this topic. Rather, it’s what we were enjoying when the topic arose. The topic was cheese. Whether a rich Camembert, an assertive Gorgonzola, or a sharp white Cheddar -- all delicious in their time and place -- sometimes you just want the light, pleasing comfort of a great Mozzarella.

That’s Yalumba! Not challenging, but not shy. Not a lot of work, not complicated, not disruptive. Just bright and cheerful. The hug from a dear friend right at that moment when you need a hug; an embrace that can’t be mistaken for anything more complicated.

And we’re pleased to note that there’s nothing complicated about the price, not when it’s in the $11 range. Bet it would be lovely along side of a lovely selection of cheese, too.

Delicious!
Jim Jim The Down-Underdog 2007, Australia
The quiet celebration for completing the first phase of building our summer home required something whimsical and festive. Something that could make all of Tom’s hard work with hammers and saws and muscle aches fade into memory, something to add an extra smile while gazing at all he had accomplished. The crisp evening air and colorful leaves overhead perfectly supported the crisp, flavorful fun of Jim Jim. 

We missed our own companion, Auggie The Doggie. We waited for the family of deer who trotted by each evening to inspect Tom’s work. We toasted to future gatherings with our family and friends, to hard labors well done. We toasted to moments away from the tropical heat as we greeted a clear autumn sundown. We toasted the $13 price tag of this evening’s social beverage.

Jim Jim? You are welcome here.

Delicious!
Passaggio New Generation Chardonnay 2008, California
Please. Join hands. Smile at your neighbors. Be. As one. And know that the notes breezing through your soul are the foundation of your life, so feel the rhythm.

What else to know? If we’re looking for a negative, why isn’t Passaggio in the store up the road? But setting aside that minor problem...

It. Is. Fabulous. A respite from the grind. A joyful moment in time. A smooth, flavorful ride that sent us to near ecstasy since we picked up this happy state-of-being for under $15 (not including shipping).

Truly? We think it sets the bar for delicious. 

In The News
In the July/August 2009 issue of Men's Journal shares that unoaked Chardonnay is just plain better than anything issuing from a barrel. (They could have just asked.) The writer further shares that unoaked Chardonnays are fine alongside of a delicious plate of fresh oysters. We contend that unoaked Chardonnays are fine alongside of just about anything. Enjoy!

Cooking With Wine
About that: we have cooked a great many recipes with wine -- red, white, whatever is leftover or whatever the recipe specifically listed, and have concluded that the style of wine to keep available is Dry Marsala. It brightens the flavor of most wine-inclusive recipes -- from turf to sea -- without messing up the outcome. Some wines are lovely to drink but once cooked down, you're suddenly wondering what went wrong with the pasta sauce.

The chef in a great restaurant or great home kitchen might require something specific for a very specific recipe, but for average folks who are just trying to put something special on the table, Dry Marsala will always do the job, is our observation.

Not that we're against using an unoaked Chardonnay in our recipes. It's just that we prefer ours in a glass.

Delicious!
Clos LaChance Hummingbird Series Glittering Throated Emerald Unoaked Chardonnay 2008, California
Like a party in a glass! And if you imagine that all wines say “party,” we’ve learned over time that they don’t. Some, truth be told, say, “Run, run far far away.”

Not this gem. Although the name is a mouthful, who could resist giving it a try? Not us. We’re suckers for whimsy and were rewarded for our daring.

Fresh, tropical, maybe a little sassy, too. We picked it up for about $13. At that price it can be sassy and talk back to us all it wants. 

Delicious!
Iron Horse Vineyards Unoaked Chardonnay 2008, California
This, we were surprised to enjoy, had all the power without a cuddle. There is nothing oaky about it, don’t make that mistake. It shared its flavor with confidence, but without nuance. We didn’t detect hints of herbs or fruit scents. No drama. No coddling. Just a fine glass of wine when you’re sharing the events of the everyday.

It does what it does, and does it just fine, thanks.

A hard day’s work, well-earned. (Found in the neighborhood of about $20 and more per bottle reminding us that a quality work horse is never cheap.) 

Delicious!
No 99 Wayne Gretzky Estates 2007 Unoaked Chardonnay, Canada
Predictably and without imagination, we expected a ride on the ice -- a cool, bold bite of crisp winter days and in reality, we were greeted by none of that. This wine delivered the opposite of that. Instead we were met with light summer sunshine for the eyes, a thoughtful, warm embrace for the tongue, a hint of the tropics for the imagination. No doubt about it: we both recognized a fresh, quiet allure of lemon.

So let’s get it out of the way: you don’t have to be a fan of hockey to be a fan of this wine. That would just be a bonus point. But since a portion of the proceeds are donated to the Wayne Gretzky Foundation (an organization that helps children to enjoy healthy activities), your purchase of this wine (about $16 on the day we scored) can not only brighten your evening, but the lives of deserving others, too.  

Delicious!
Domaine Chandon Unoaked Chardonnay 2007, California
We’re the people whose palates are so enured to years of beer enjoyment, that for us to single out a subtle hint of anything in a wine is like making a pig dance. And yet, there it was. Raspberry of all things. We both noticed it, that whisper of raspberry. We both enjoyed it, too. A delicious wine, an attendant companion to a lovely evening with just that little bit of something unexpected.

Not surprisingly, this one comes to the table at just under $20.  

Coffee. That's A Social Beverage. To Some People.
This is Tom's category, not mine. Coffee or coffee-flavored products have only touched my lips three times in fifty-six years and I fairly faint at the thought of it ever happening again. The joy of a cuppa is something I can't fathom. But I understand that most people do like coffee so I try to pay attention. Cooks Illustrated shared a tip and according to the people I've experimented upon, this makes great coffee using most any coffee maker, even cheapies.

Use nearly boiling water.

Instead of pouring cold water into the coffee maker, put cold water into a kettle, bring the water just to a boil (preparing your coffee maker with coffee grounds while you wait), then pour that hot water into the coffee maker. It's an extra step, true. But if you like coffee, I suppose it's worth it. Why? Because unless you spent, like, $265, your coffee maker doesn't get the water hot enough to extrude all that (blech) flavor out of the grounds. Always use fresh grounds, should go without saying. And fair warning -- your coffee will be hotter than usual.

Go. Enjoy. Leave me out of it. (Earl Grey, anyone?)

Delicious!
Spring Seed Wine Company Four O'Clock Chardonnay 2008 Certified Organic, Australia
It may have been calling us at four o’clock, but we anxiously waited until 6:30p. This would be our first sample of an organic unoaked, and with the charming label and great distance it came to arrive at our table, this was not an easy wait.

But oh so worth it. Refreshing, light but with body, lots of flavor.

And did we mention it’s organic! Because in our house, that is marketing buzz we prefer to hear for virtually any ingested product.

This was available from an online distributor (not including the shipping charge) for about $16. So I’d say we’ll be seeing this at our table again.

Delicious!
Chehalem 2008 Inox Chardonnay, Oregon  updated
Sometimes a smooth unoaked is just the right thing for the moment. Sometimes it’s a crispy unoaked that hits the spot.

As presented in 2007, this vintage continues to have zing. Refreshing. A definite fruit presence, but not sugary-sweet. It’s just right.

We don’t know what Chehalem means. We don’t know what Inox means. But we know by the labels that the makers view their product as a work of art. We agree: it’s lovely.

And just like the 2007 vintage, the 2008 is available in the $17 range. That’s lovely, too! 

Delicious!
Brancott Gisborne Chardonnay 2006, New Zealand
What a fine pour to serve of a fine evening. Smooth, for those who prefer less bite, but flavorful without overwhelming the palate.

(Now we use words like “palate,” which I promise, doesn’t occur often when discussing the merits of your average bottle of beer.)

We found this on the shelf at our local wine shop and at under $15, we hope we’ll find it again.  

Delicious!
Babich Hawke's Bay Chardonnay Unoaked 2007, New Zealand
Oh what a happy surprise. I don’t know why. We pay attention to these things. But somehow, we had never heard of Babich.

Glad that didn’t last too long.

Smooth, refreshing, fresh, flavorful, and accurately described as friendly, Odd description for a wine, but in this case, it’s perfect.

Hang with your pals, share something delicious, share happy stories with each other, that’s what this wine elicits. And it does so in the neighborhood of $12. At that, Babich can join the ranks of being one of our new best friends.

Delicious!
Rustenberg Brampton 2007 Unoaked Chardonnay, South Africa
It’s not an unusual story, not in the world of wine, but this company can trace its roots back through centuries. We like that.

Rustenberg Vineyards began in 1682. Sure, it’s endured property splits, bankruptcy and the occasional new owner -- gosh, who hasn’t? -- but currently, the properties are reunited, the cellar has been in continuous operation for more than 100 years, and this wine would probably make the original owner delighted, as we are with every sip.

Wonder how he’d feel about the $13 price tag. I know, we liked it.

Comme ci, comme ca
Anakena Chardonnay 2008, Chile
We argued (peaceably) about this one. I insist that price is irrelevant as it relates to an opinion of the product. In wine world, $85 might be cheap for something sublime while $7 might be wasted if the wine doesn’t sing. Inexpensive wine can be delicious, therefore a real value. and expensive wine can induce a big ol’ “yuck” from those of us who are less refined in the language arts.

So where are we on this product? Maybe Tom had endured a bad day of crabby customers, who knows? But when we poured this, he shared that the wine was passable since it’s only $7. I countered that for $7, I’d rather have beer. We agree that price aside, we didn’t enjoy this one.

Delicious!
Hendry Unoaked Chardonnay 2007, California
And by ‘delicious’ we mean, oh yeah, baby! That bottle protected a smooth, flavorful, pale golden caress of sunshine for the soul.

What a treat.

We don’t mean to carry on about it, but this really is an exceptional pour and if you get the opportunity to shell out in the neighborhood of $22 or so, do it.

You won’t be sorry.

Delicious!
Elderton Unoaked Chardonnay 2008, Australia  updated
We really disliked our experience with the 2007 version of this wine. Who knows why we met with such an odd taste, but from the first sip, then a second and a third, we couldn’t escape the flavor of children’s bubblegum-flavored toothpaste, and didn’t until we ate chips and a nice garlic cheese spread. Then, suddenly, we had a pleasant glass of wine. But that isn’t how these things should work. Not in our opinion. Stand alone or not at all, dear Chard.

We were hesitant to even try this again, but did, and were pleased to discover that from the first pour, we were enjoying ourselves. Now we were in the company of a nice unoaked Chardonnay. Smooth, but not heavy or cloying, not overly sweet (no bubblegum), a bit of zing (for about $15).

And we gathered a little life lesson along the way: who knows why things are the way they are. They just are.

Delicious!
Kim Crawford Unoaked Chardonnay 2008, New Zealand  updated
What could be better than finding that a favorite has hung in with what works, that the necessary components required to create a great wine have remained intact from one year to the next, that if all things aren’t yet right with the world, there is at least one thing you can count on to remain steadfast and fantastic.

Yes, Kim, we’re talking about you. We loved you in 2007. We love you in 2008! Unreliably priced anywhere from $17 to $24, depending on where you shop and whether or not there is a sale. Alas.

Delicious! and Comme ci, comme ca
Four Vines Naked Chardonnay 2007, California
It had to happen some time and this was the one. The world won’t crumble to bits, but Tom and I disagree on this wine: he thinks it’s lovely, I do not.

To him, it’s robust and flavorful. To me, it’s creamy and heavy-handed. Maybe I was having a bad day.

Maybe Tom was thirsty for anything. Who knows? This product is offered at about $13, so maybe you’ll have to make your own decision at your own table.

Etiquette
Gigi D of Miami has it on good authority that to properly open a screw capped bottle of wine (and there is nothing wrong with screw caps, is our opinion so let's not have that conversation), you don't twist the cap to open. Rather, you hold the cap and twist the bottle.

A Note To Distributors & Bartenders
Please take a moment to learn about our Delicious! rated wines. Those of us who prefer unoaked Chardonnay (many, many people) would appreciate finding these products in your shops, restaurants and bars. Anything you can do to help.  -- Thank you 

Delicious!
La Vuelta Unoaked Chardonnay 2008, Argentina
Reader Richard B gave us heads up about one of his own favorites, and we have to say, this wine symbolizes everything we’ve come to love and suffer about the pursuit of favorite social beverages.

This wasn’t available from the grocer or from our wine purveyor or from the chain store on the corner or even from our usual on-line shops.

Nope. To sample a bottle of Richard B’s favorite involved trolling the aisles of a Big Box Monument to Alcohol, which came after making a trip to the other end of a traffic-laden metro area. Horrible.

Yet. So worth it. And for $8, it would be worth making the trip again!

Comme ci, comme ca
Stratton Lummis Chardonnay Carneros Limited Lots 2006, California
Suddenly Tom and I felt like a couple of characters from the movie “Sideways,” except we would call our movie “Swillers Masquerading.” There we were, twirling and checking color and sniffing and cleansing our palates, and the first utterance was “Huh.”

The first actual word was “Peppery.” Is that actually a word?

We sensed the appeal, particularly alongside of a grilled steak. But when we want a glass of wine, we don’t look forward to, you know, pepper.

Delicious! and Comme ci, comme ca
St Supery 2007 Chardonnay Oak Free, California
I was smiling, and considered the fresh taste that lingered. Tom was not smiling, wondering how to make the harsh bite go away.

Ah, but isn’t that what makes life delicious?

We both agreed that this choice probably belongs alongside the meal that has all the zip of your grandma’s tapioca. That way, one way or another, something will interest your taste buds. Your choice.

This one set us back $18 at the local liquor store.

Delicious!
Louis Jadot Macon-Villages Chardonnay 2007, France
Louis Jadot provided the perfect relief variety when we couldn’t find an unoaked-specific variety. And it upset our minds and palate from the entrenched belief that wine had to come from steel vats to know the purity of the grape.

That said, there are several delicious wines from the Mâconnais region. We affectionately refer to this one, our first one, as “May-Cone,” as in, “Let’s have a May-Cone this evening.”

And we never regret it.

Readily available at many markets and shops, usually between $12 and $15.

Delicious!
Joseph Drouhin Macon-Villages Chardonnay 2007, France
Served with pride. Readily available, a handsome label, an appetizing color, a pleasant aroma, a cool, crisp taste, a fine companion to whatever you’re serving. and, wait for it, we usually find it for under $10. We're trying to sort out the problem.

No problem.

Delicious!
Trevor Jones Virgin Chardonnay 2007, Australia
Standing tall and proud, this was heartily recommended by our local wine purveyor. And we have to agree, It was a little like striking gold.

Bright, fresh, entertaining, maybe with a dash more after bite than we prefer, but it never got in the way of our enjoyment.

This came home at about $16, so it may look like a million bucks, but it won’t shrink the budget unnecessarily.

Delicious!
The Wishing Tree 2008 Unoaked Chardonnay, Australia
We’ve seen this brand all over the internet, but had the darndest time getting our hands on a bottle. That’s the problem with wine -- this distributor only carries this one, that distributor only carries that one.

Hey! We enjoyed this enough that we’ll go to Western Australia and distribute a case to ourselves if we have to! (Oooo, don’t we wish!)

Crisp, friendly, welcoming, and in the US$10 range, it’s a little visit to Oz without the jet lag. (Although a trip to Australia is soooo worth the jet lag).

Comme ci, comme ca
La Linda 2007 Unoaked Chardonnay, Argentina
How many times can we try a wine and come to the same conclusion? Twice, apparently. Tom had a very specific dislike when he tried the 2007 vintage, which he specifically remembered when he drank the 2008.

To him, this wine has an unpleasant back- bite that lingers. To me, it was just too heavy. Almost, dare I say it? Oaky.

We base our opinions on how a wine tastes all by itself, not on how it tastes when paired with this or that. All by itself, we would skip this. Although Tom would skip it entirely, I can imagine that it might be fine with a meal that has tang and spice. Around-about in the $10ish range.

Comme ci, comme ca
White Truck Unoaked Chardonnay 2007, California
Well, if nothing else, it’s fun to know that you’re participating in a company that seems to enjoy having fun. Personally, I love their website.

We can’t say that we would seek out this variety, but we won’t cover our glass when the next round is served, either.

It’s spicy and it is fresh, which we certainly enjoy, but maybe with a little too much bite so it isn’t entirely refreshing. We found it difficult to pin down.

You’re right. We should probably pick up another bottle (around $12) and try it again!

Let's Enjoy An Alternative Social Beverage
We enjoy the occasional Gin & Tonic (Hendricks, thank you), but would enjoy it much more if great tonics were readily available. The stuff we're accustomed to finding in the market don't do justice to artfully-crafted spirits.

Help us out by asking your local market to stock Stirrings, Fever Tree or Q. Real quinine. Little to no sugar. Low calorie. We will share that those are premium products for a premium price, and since they aren't as sweet as the standard offerings, might require a palate adjustment along with a financial adjustment. But oh, so worth it.

We also share that if you can't find one of those, the generic 365-brand of tonic from Whole Foods is an adequate substitute. Not as dramatic. But no corn syrup, so less, well, syrupy.

Just for background, we didn't have fresh limes on photo day (above), but limes really are required for a classic Gin & Tonic. If you have access to key limes instead of Persian limes, even better!

Odd Thing To Do With A Social Beverage
This isn't our idea, but we heard it and believe it makes sense. While a guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Kirstie Alley shared that the cheapest vodka makes a great household cleaner. Environmentally friendly, unscented, easily kills bacteria on your counters and bathroom appliances, makes everything shiny, and using the cheapest vodka available will probably cost less than most of the cleaning products at the grocery store. So. We'll try it! (But just like you, we won't try it around an open flame or pilot light, right?)

Delicious!
Villa Maria Unoaked Chardonnay Hawke's Bay 2008, New Zealand
A completely unprofessional assessment because when it comes to reviewing wines, we aren’t professionals. But we know what we like and we really liked this. The one word description we both repeated was “Wow.”

Fresh and refreshing, fruit fully present without being sweet. Lingering in a most happy way.

Present this to guests or to the hosts and you will score points. Under $20, although we picked it up on sale for $15.

Delicious!
Woodbridge By Robert Mondavi Lightly Oaked Chardonnay 2007, California
It said “lightly oaked” so we thought to hold our noses and give it a try.

What a surprise! Although not exactly complex, it was the perfect wine to sit with my sister and hear about how much she enjoys her job. (I’m delighted!) Pleasant, bright without domination, perfect to bring to the table when you’re kicking back and taking it easy.

Readily available in the supermarket for under $10.

Delicious!
Sonoma Vineyards Chardonnay 2006, California
We knew we liked it. This offering is light, but at the same time flavorful and spirited. Turns out we weren't the only ones to recognize something good at first sip. It won the gold in the 23rd Annual Pacific Rim Wine Competition and was heartily recommended by Food & Wine magazine. We guess they would know. What do we know?

Without getting into the language of an oenophile geek (and we say that with love), this is a bright addition to the unoaked-lover's shopping cart. Under $15. Sometimes even under $10.

Delicious!
Mer Soleil Silver Chardonnay 2006, California
As we browsed the aisles looking for something new to put fresh happiness into Happy Hour, the shopkeeper suggested this example of an unoaked Chardonnay.

The surprise came with the first sip. “Who slipped oak into the glass?” And yet, it was merely the smooth, satiny finish that led us to an incorrect impression.

Full-bodied without the oak coating, magically lovely, flavorful, and rich in all the best ways.

Delicious, true, but at $35 a bottle, we just can’t justify that kind of expense. At least, not until we win Powerball.

Comme ci, comme ca
Wyatt Chardonnay 2007, California
I wanted to love this wine so completely.

We were totally certain that the product inside would be as simply elegant as the label on the outside (a label that refuses to mention the stainless barrel history).

But we came away disappointed that an unoaked Chardonnay would be so, so, what’s the word, oh yeah, oaky.

If your bestest friend likes an oaky wine, shell out the $12 or so as this product definitely makes a beautiful presentation, and it is smooth and flavorful. Just know -- some of that flavor is oak.

Delicious!
Elena Walch Chardonnay Alto Adige 2006, Italy
To be brutally honest, this was a two bottle project because the first had somehow “gone off.” When my husband - who thinks the blue fuzz on old lettuce just adds roughage - pours something down the drain, then it can’t be good.

Fortunately, we enjoy the good graces of a wine purveyor who cares about customer service and with a second try we learned that this wine is a delight. Light yet present, full of flavor. It would be a pleasure to serve with most any meal without competing, and fine to share with friends (at $18 per, share with good friends).

Delicious!
...last on the list, but first in our hearts and minds...
Toad Hollow Unoaked Chardonnay "Francine's Selection" 2008, California  updated
There were moments when (shudder) we feared never seeing The Toad again. “Why,” we kept asking our local wine seller, “why, why, why don’t you have 2008 on the shelves?”

“Dunno.” The dunce.

But there amidst the frightening abundance in a Big Box Store Monument To Alcohol, we found it. And once chilled we were brought back in time to the happiness we first enjoyed with our introduction to The Toad.

Even better, perhaps? Is that even possible? We think so. Cheers to The Toad. To Todd. To Francine and all their friends, family and companions who dreamed, then shared their journey with us.