Here are some that moved me, along with a few impressions: 1995 Mount Eden Chardonnay Santa Cruz Mountains - if California wine tasted like this, I would drink lots of California wine. And by the way, put this up against a lot of white Burgundy from the same year and this will come out ahead, as there is not even a hint of oxidation. MORE >>

Wells Guthrie had his conversion on the road home from Burgundy. The lanky, California maker of pinot noir, chardonnay, and syrah told me at his Sonoma winery that he had his conversion in 2005, after returning from a trip to Burgundy and the Rhone. Saul had his conversion on the road to Damascus. American wine wine picks MORE >>

2007 Domaine des Pothiers Vin de Pays d'Urfé Fou de Chene , $12.60, Fruit of the Vines Imports. This is Chardonnay, technically from the Loire Department, but we're talking closer to Lyon and Burgundy than to Vouvray or Chinon. It's not easy to find delicious, varietally correct, old school Chardonnay. or $13.50 MORE >>

Tissot also makes some lovely examples of Chardonnay. The Cotes du Jura en Barberon, 2007 & 2008, grown on limestone soil, had a lovely richness. These are not your father’s white Burgundies. With distinctive minerality, the 2007 was quite approachable, and the 2008 a bit more closed, not surprisingly. MORE >>

The Lassaigne estate is located in Montgueux, a large chalky hill whose vineyards produce what many consider to be the finest Chardonnay grapes in the Aube. This place, known as the Montrachet of Champagne, is an island of Chardonnay in a sea of Pinot Noir. Some would call them "hipster" wines, and perhaps they're right. MORE >>