Top 5 New World Chardonnays for 2022
14th April 2022
Chardonnay is one of the most widely planted varieties in the world.
Whilst arguably not the most characterful grape, hence its common ageing in oak, at its pinnacle in Burgundy it produces some of the greatest white wines in the world. But outside of Chardonnay from Burgundy, the New World is producing some of the best Chardonnays.
Often referred to as "the winemaker's grape" due to the winery's influence on the defining characteristics of each wine, Chardonnay is of course one of the best-known grapes in the world and we've selected our favourites from Chile, Australia, South Africa & Australia.
Ahead of International Chardonnay Day next month, we've hand-picked our favourites for 2022 to suit all tastes and budgets. From Chardonnay lovers to those that will always say they "don't like Chardonnay", our selection will have something for everyone.
Here’s our selection of the Top 5 New World Chardonnays for 2022:
- Pandolfi Price, Larkun Chardonnay, Valle del Itata, 2018
- Wickhams Road, Chardonnay, Gippsland, 2021
- Pandolfi Price, Los Patricios Chardonnay, Valle del Itata, 2017
- Chamonix, Chardonnay Reserve, Franschhoek, 2018
- Hoddles Creek, Syberia Chardonnay, Yarra Valley, 2019
Pandolfi Price, Larkun Chardonnay, Valle del Itata, 2018
Fermented and left on the lees for a year in stainless steel tanks lees - giving lots of texture and interest - and without undergoing malolactic fermentation to preserve freshness. The result is a delightfully mineral and elegant style, with herbal, leafy and tangerine nuances. Now-2023
"Cool, fresh, fine Chardonnay on the nose – this would be a devilish wine to include in a blind tasting. Pure, cool and perfect. Cool as a cucumber in fact. A southern-hemisphere Chablis? This seems underpriced to me." VVGV Drink 2020 –2023 Jancis Robinson, May 2021
François Massoc, a gentle, thoughtful man, is a master winemaker. Born just down the road in Concepcion, he spent years studying in Dijon and making wine in Burgundy before returning to Chile. He assists with advice in the vineyard, chooses the best parcels for the family's wine, likes to work with long, slow fermentations, and knows barrels backwards. He is one of the new gang shaking up the Chilean wine scene, being a winemaker at boutique wineries Calyptra and Aristos. What we liked about his work at Pandolfi Price is that here are hand-crafted wines from a great site but without any fancy boutique prices.
We're afraid this wine is now out of stock. Discover more of our incredible chardonnays here.
Wickhams Road, Chardonnay, Gippsland, 2021
From vines in Woori Yallock and Macclesfield vineyards. Aromas of white flowers with the merest herbaceous accent. Incisive attack; lime and grapefruit tempered by fresh cream. Very pure and lively – this is a refreshing, low-oak example, which would suit Chablis lovers. Now-2025
We're afraid this wine is now out of stock. Discover more of our incredible chardonnays here.
Pandolfi Price, Los Patricios Chardonnay, Valle del Itata, 2017
"This has an abundance of savoury aromas struck match, flint and Parmesan. It is mouth-filling and complex, just coming into its own, with a long, slightly saline finish. Bold and irrepressible in style - Itata's Meursault?" 95 pts, Drink 2021-2027 Amanda Barnes, South American Chardonnay, Decanter June 2021
Another stunning Chardonnay from François Massoc, the latest vintage shows a bold waft of toast and honey – youthful, ripe and powerful, appealingly sharp, with flavours of tangerine and honeydew melon buttressed by oak. Now-2026
Chamonix, Chardonnay Reserve, Franschhoek, 2018
The recently installed winemaker at Chamonix, Niel Bruwer, has pulled the wines here back into shape. This is the top Chardonnay, a strict barrel selection from the highest vineyards at 500-600m. it's barrel fermented and aged for 14 months, with 20% matured in expensive Nomblot eggs - which are supposed to be the perfect shape for the suspension of the lees of the wine. Good depth of tone. Such an inviting nose, buttery over lime and stone fruit. Well textured, with a dry and savoury core, enlivened by exotic notes of pinneapple, peach and tangerine. Very complete and expressive. Now-2024
Hoddles Creek, Syberia Chardonnay, Yarra Valley, 2019
This is one of the estate’s two top Chardonnays, a barrel selection from a single vineyard, a high, cool (hence the name) site in cleared forest in the Upper Yarra. From Franco’s website: “Located on our steepest, highest block at Hoddles Creek. Syberia is always quite different to the standard Hoddles Creek Chardonnay. The row orientation is East-West so it doesn't see a lot of direct sunlight on bunches. The wine is whole bunch pressed straight to cask, no fining and zero filtration”. Intriguing scents of struck match, toast and honey. This sings in the mouth: pure and vibrant; oaky, to be sure, but perfectly integrated; voluptuous but also chalky; with a svelte mouthfeel. Altogether cool, refined and collected, yet with that indefinable buzz that marks fine Chardonnay from a top site. Easily the match of far more expensive Grand Cru white Burgundy. Now-2028
Exclusive to Stone, Vine & Sun
We source our amazing wines from small independent winemakers and as such you’re unlikely to find them anywhere else in the UK.
Due to their exclusivity, these beautiful wines New World Chardonnays may sell out. If any of our selection of top picks are unavailable, you can get in touch with us & we’d be delighted to suggest some delicious alternatives.
