Chardonnay Wine between $10 and $25 ()

Intense floral aromas are followed by notes of fresh peach, pear and citrus with hints of toasty vanilla oak. Soft in texture, this well-balanced wine is crisp and refreshing on the finish.

With deep hues, this wine shows well-developed, concentrated flavors from the long hang times that this unique growing season allowed. Fragrant honeysuckle and pineapple aromas add depth to this medium-bodied wine. Forward flavors of stone fruits, pear and sweet citrus have softness on the palate. Food Pairing: Superb with grilled or broiled fish, chicken and light pork and casual foods such as tapas, paninis and wraps.

A hint of oak complements the freshness of fruit and the evident notes of green apple, pear and citrus. Our wine is aged for several months to develop a rich, creamy texture that gracefully balances its fruit-forward character.

Color: Bright light yellow with subtle lime notes. Nose: Fresh and clean sweet citrus aromas with lime and pineapple hints. Palate: Elegant, with nice texture and acidity. Long finish. Food Pairing: The ideal companion for appetizers and seafood.

"Les Charmes" is the flagship bottling of Cave de Lugny, which owns more than 95% of the vineyards in the Mâcon-Lugny appellation. It is made exclusively from old vine Chardonnay from the 195 acre Les Charmes vineyard, the crown jewel of its vast holdings. The voluptuous structure and spicy flavor of Les Charmes is attributed to the rare "Musk clone" Chardonnay, which makes up most of the vineyard. The just-released 2011 Les Charmes is a worthy successor to the excellent 2010. It offers notes of tropical fruit, spicy yellow apple, and honeysuckle, with excellent acidity. Although the wine sees no oak aging, gentle lees stirring provides a creamy richness reminiscent of a more expensive Cote de Beaune. Les Charmes offers significant aging ability of 2 to 4 years.

Whether you are a White Burgundy lover on a budget, or just someone looking for a great house white for everyday imbibing or for parties/weddings/social functions, Cave de Lugny Macon-Villages "La Cote Blanche" is as close to a no-brainer as anything I've ever come across. Despite the absurdly low price, it gives me the sophistication I look for in $25 White Burgundies – nervy, energetic fruit, subtle minerality, and, most elusively of all, the sheer joie de vivre that only well-made White Burgundy can convey. A virtual clone of the 2010 vintage, named Decanter’s #1 Chardonnay under $15, the 2011 "La Cote Blanche" offers up fresh, Chablis-like mineral, yellow fruit and floral notes, followed on the palate, by light, bright, flavors of fresh cut apple, pear, and white flowers. Completely unoaked, it has a sneaky intensity of flavor that persists right through to the energetic finish.
-- Ben Giliberti, CW Director of Wine Education

This is a terrific bottle of Chardonnay, regardless of whether it hails from Napa Valley or from Burgundy. The style is clearly an amalgamation of the best of both idioms. It doles out plenty of delectably forward, Napa Valley yellow apple fruit, but the richness is checked by brisk acidity and refreshing notes of cool climate minerality imparted by the chilly Carneros microclimate. While oak is present in the wine's structure, the effect is subtle and understated, much as it would be in a top quality white Burgundy. In short, this is one of the most enjoyable Chardonnays I've tasted in a long time, at a ridiculously low price. Highly recommended.
-- Ben Giliberti, CW Director of Wine Education