Almost ninety Chardonnays with wood this time on the tasting table. As to be expected, the bulk comes from France.
Longavi Glup! Naranjo Valle del Itata 2024 - 3.5 stars
€ 15,60
Between white and orange. Grapey (muscat d’ Alexandrie), good with cheese and desserts. Fermented in concrete for six months, then aged in old wooden barrels. Creation of a Chilean and South African winemaker. Chile
Meat wine - game wine - cheese wine - relax wine
Weingut Thörle Landwein Rhein Natural Grauburgunder 2023 - 3.5 stars
€ 17,95
Orange Grauburgunder (pinot gris) from Rheinhessen. Flavours of rose, exotic fruit, citrus and spice. Ripe tannin gives firmness and a soft side. Goes with spicy veggie curry or roast lamb. Germany
Meat wine - game wine - cheese wine
Léo Dirringer Fleur de Peau Riesling 2021 Alsace - 3.5 stars
€ 17,95
Fresh as apple cider, with flowers and light tannins. Ten days of peeling contact, one year in large wooden barrels. Goes with sauerkraut with bacon and sausage, sweet potato from the oven or couscous with vegetables. France
Vegetable wine - cheese wine - relaxation wine
Léo Dirringer Virose Orange Gewürztraminer 2024 Alsace - 4 stars
€ 19,95
Juicy and fresh, with good acidity. Fragrant but not exuberant aromas (ginger, cardamom, orange peel, lemon zest). Relatively short skinning (3 days). Matches wild boar. France
Domaine Geschickt Le Schlouk 2023 Alsace - 4 stars
€23 (1 litre)
Playful, with rose, lychee and lots of energy. Mostly gewürztraminer, complemented by riesling. Ideally chilled, for picnics or drinks.
Drinks - vegetable wine - cheese - favourite wine - everybody's friend
Domaine Geschickt Grand Cru Mambourg 2023 Alsace - 5 stars
€ 34
Full and warm, still young. Firm with rose, marmalade, cinnamon and raspy acidity. Blend of 70% gewürztraminer and 30% riesling. Recommended with lamb stew, onion and apricot.
Relax wine - cheese - storage wine
Marc Kreydenweiss Lune à Boire Orange 2023 Alsace - 5 stars
€ 26,45
Blend of gewürztraminer, pinot gris and sylvaner. Seven-day skinning, lots of colour and aroma but balanced. Aromas of apricot, apple, cinnamon, cardamom and five-spice. Wonderful with Moroccan coq au vin orange.
Sparkling wine - relaxation wine - meat wine - cheese - storage wine
Mauperthuis Chablis Amphore Orange 2020 - 3.5 stars
€ 35,50
From chardonnay. Instructive contrast to classic Chablis: fresh style but with more colour, structure and aromas due to skin softening. Delicious with fish, chicken or roasted vegetables (leeks).
Drinks - fish wine - vegetable wine
La Mariota Orange Tacsum 2023 Côtes Catalanes - 4 stars
€ 26
Unpolished but lively. Scents of nutmeg, peach, spices, ginger and eucalyptus. Tough bitterness. Solo and versatile.
Drinks - relax - vegetable wine
L'Arjolle Brut d'Orange Muscat-Viognier 2024 Languedoc - 4 stars
€ 14,70
Fragrant blend of muscat à petits grains and viognier. Floral but tight and fresh. Delicious with red cheeses such as Epoisses or abbey cheese.
Sparkling wine - cheese wine
Mas de Janiny Tibo 2024 Languedoc - 3.5 stars
€ 12,50
Blend of carignan blanc, ugni blanc and terret bourret. Three weeks of skinning. Aromas of melon, citrus, hay. Cloudy, full and round. Goes with pizza quattro formaggi, pumpkin or mackerel.
Drinks - fish - cheese
Nuance Corail Vin Orange 2024 Languedoc - 3.5 stars
€ 10,75
Light and cheerful, with citrus and wild flowers. Supple, suitable as a drink and with light dishes. Blend of grenache blanc, ugni blanc, muscat and clairette.
Drinks - party - vegetable wine
Pierre & Antonin Petit Sauvage Orange 2024 Languedoc - 4 stars
€ 13,75
From souvignier gris, a fungus-resistant grape. Sparkling orange, flavours of citrus, saffron. For so or with fish with bacon, saltimbocca or rice with nuts and sultanas.
Drinks - fish - cheese
Villa Noria Basic Instinct Amfóra 2023 Languedoc-Roussillon - 3.5 stars
€ 29,95
Blend of muscat, pinot gris, sauvignon gris, clairette and picpoul. Aged in amphora. Floral, with apricot, hazelnut, herbs, honey and citrus bitters. Intense but not heavy.
Relax - meat - game - cheese
Xavier Weisskopf Le Rocher des Violettes Chenin Orange 2023 Loire - 4 stars
€ 31
Warm pink-orange colour. Subtle flavour with orange zest, apricot jelly, honey and lavender. Tingling fresh acidity. Delicious with salad with flowers or ceviche.
Sparkling wine - vegetable wine - fish wine
Domaine La Ferme Saint-Martin Austral 2022 Rhône - 3.5 stars
€ 29,50
From roussanne and grenache blanc. Orange zest, apricot jam, rosemary and thyme. A year aged in wood. Recommended with chicken thigh stew with olives.
Drinks - meat - relaxation wine
Ilia Estate Taoba Orange 2021 - 3.5 stars
€ 17,35
From rkatsiteli and kisi. Quince, rosehip jelly, soft bite and fresh acidity. Delicious on its own or with fried fish with dill sauce and capers.
Drinks - fish - vegetables
Tre Monti Vigna Rocca Albana Secco Orange 2024 Emilia-Romagna - 4.5 stars
€ 12,95
From late-picked albana, 15-20 days of peeling contact. Rich but dry, with apricot. Broadly versatile: pasta, risotto or cheesecake.
Vegetable wine - fish wine - cheese wine - hearth wine
Borgo Savaian Aransat Friuli - 4 stars
€ 21,99
Blend of friulano, malvasia and ribolla gialla. 80-day fermentation. Flavours of tea, marmalade, saffron and cinnamon. Lovely with risotto, spaghetti with tuna heart or brioche with anchovies.
Drinks - relax - vegetables - fish - favourite wine
Il Carpino Malvasia 2015 Friuli - 4.5 stars
€ 31
Complex with wild peach, orange peel, flowers and spices. Proves that orange wine can age well.
Drinks - relax - fireside
Il Carpino Vis Uvae Pinot Grigio 2016 Friuli - 5 stars
€ 30,75
Complex and balanced: orange, candied fruit, rye bread, fresh acidity. Gets better after opening, decanting recommended.
Drinks - relax - cheese - hearth fire - favourite wine
La Gironda Pel di Carota 2024 Piedmont - 3.5 stars
€ 27,50
Blend of cortese, sauvignon blanc and chardonnay. More earthy than fruity, with quince and medlar. Delicious with new herring or caramelised fennel.
In Serrata Insolito 2024 Tuscany - 3.5 stars
€ 24,95
From trebbiano with four weeks of peeling contact. Citrus, dried apple, smoky and spicy through amphora. Intriguing character.
Drinks - relax - fireside
Toni Beneito Orange Tortosi 2023 Almansa - 3 stars
€ 21,45
From tortosi, one year in French oak. Goes with chicken, turkey or cheese. Spain.
Meat - cheese - hearth fire
Martín Codáx OW Albariño 2024 Rías Baixas - 3.5 stars
€ 22,95
Light, summery and energetic (albariño). Ideal as a start to a menu.
Drinks - fish - vegetable wine
Heréncia Altés Trementinaire 2021 Terra Alta - 4.5 stars
€ 28,30
Classic Orange with creaminess and structure. Orange blossom, orange peel, honey. Goes with beetroot, white fish or duck à l'orange.
Fish - vegetable wine - meat - game - cheese - gift wine
Neleman Nucli Macabeo Orange 2024 Valencia - 3.5 stars
€ 11,99
Organic macabeo. Citrus fruit (mandarin, orange, yuzu) with apricot and spices. Fresh and supple with light bite.
Drinks - vegetable wine - everybody's friend
Daschbosch Skin Contact 2022 Western Cape - 3.5 stars
€ 12,99
From chenin and muscat d’ Alexandria. Three months sur lie. Marmalade, almond, saltiness. Fresh and with bite.
Drinks - fish - vegetable wine
Grange de Malivet Chardonnay Wooded 2024 - 3 stars
€ 6,65
Something of everything: vanilla, butter, caramel, ripe peach and apricot. For the chardonnay-on-wood fan.
France, Pays d'Oc - Relax wine
Radacini Vintage Chardonnay 2022 - 3.5 stars
€ 6,95
Moldova, Codru. Ripe pear, creamy citrus, toast and vanilla. Soft, supple and drinkable.
Price-quality - everyone's friend - party wine
Paul Mas Cha Cha Cha 2023 - 3.5 stars
€ 9,50
France, Pays d'Oc. Balance between acidity and ripe fruit (apricot, pineapple). Cheerful, danceable wine.
Party wine - lunch wine
Beauvignac Chardonnay 2024 - 3.5 stars
€ 9,50
France, Côtes de Thau. Fresh, elegant and versatile. Fruity juice, flowers, toast.
Drinks - lunch wine - party wine
Bis By Biscaye Chardonnay (2024)
Fresh with flair. Nice and loose with juicy pear, a sprig of lime, a leaf of mint, subtle vanilla and toast. Does well with a weekday drink or a Sunday lunch with quiche.
€ 11,45
Origin: France, Pays d'Oc
Moments: Drinks, Vegetable wine, Lunch wine
Kettmeir, Chardonnay Reserve (2022)
Soft and sultry, but at the same time with fresh Alpine acidity. An easy drinker. Delicious with salmon or chicken.
€ 11,95
Origin: Italy, Alto Adige
Moments: Fish wine, Vegetable wine, Gentleman's friend
Neleman, Bike Chardonnay, Winemakers Release (2022)
A wine to take a detour for. Ripe pineapple, soft vanilla and a hint of caramel whiz by smoothly. Round, smooth and just what you want after a brisk ride.
€ 13,49
Origin: Spain, Valencia
Moments: Everyman's friend, Relax wine
Luzy Macarez, Mâcon Villages Rencontre (2022)
Burgundy without airs and graces. Modest wood. Pineapple, melon, honey, almond, buttercup. Generous, round and juicy. Another glass?
€ 11,95
Origin: France, Burgundy
Moments: Drinks, Gifts, Price-quality
Domaine Astruc, Malras Chardonnay (2023)
Fun Limoux, southern French charm. Chicken thighs and corn on the grill or a homemade schnitzel on your plate. Candied yellow fruit, pineapple, black and white and a hint of green. Layered and with ‘grip’.
€ 13,00
Origin: France, Limoux
Moments: Vegetable wine, Meat wine, Relax wine
Aurélie Vie, Le Long Chemin (2023)
Playful Chardonnay with a tingle. Fine acidity, subtle wood and seductive caramelised fruit, some brioche, nuts and soft citrus. Just like that or with grilled vegetables or a fish from the oven.
€ 13,49
Origin: France, Limoux
Moments: Drinks, Vegetable wine, Fish wine
Karl May, Chardonnay Kalkstein (2024)
Has something of Chablis in the distance. With knots of acidity, flint, citrus, minerals and greenish yellow apples. Fresh and tingly. With excitement in every sip. Aperitif-worthy!
€ 14,95
Origin: Germany, Rheinhessen
Moments: Drinks, Fish wine
Laurent Miquel, Côte 228 (2023)
Smart, sleek and stylish. Chardonnay with substance. The wood is nicely dosed, just enough to give it an exciting touch. Granny Smith apples, flint, pineapple, fine fresh fruit interwoven with flavours from the barrel.
€ 15,95
Origin: France, Pays d'Oc
Moments: Fish wine, Gift wine
Cisterzienser Weingut, Hessloch Chardonnay (2022)
German with a nod to Burgundy. Peach, apple syrup, toast, nuts and mineral-lime-like. Serious yet playful. All in balance, enjoyable for a long time. With roast chicken, creamy vegetable dishes or later in the evening.
€ 17,85
Origin: Germany, Rheinhessen
Edouard Delaunay, Septembre Chardonnay (2022)
Subdued wine with fine acidity and nice juice. Boone wax, yellow fruit, ripe peach and something earthy. Crisp freshness. Whatever the month.
€ 20,95
Origin: France, Burgundy
Moments: Drinks wine, Relax wine, Gift wine
Pago Finca Élez, Sobre Lias Chardonnay (2022)
Toast, cake base, lemon, dried flowers, caramelised pineapple, it goes on and on. Ripe, concentrated and with depth. A Spanish charmer with wood in place and acids that keep it exciting. Serve with fried fish or roasted pumpkin.
€ 15,89
Origin: Spain, Castilla la Mancha
Moments: Lunch wine, Gift wine, Relax wine, Price-quality
Thierry Drouin, Plaisance (2023)
This Mâconnais-Chardonnay taps from a fresh keg: citrus, green apple, a little blossom. With hefty acidity. Subtle wood gives depth: toasted almond, some cream and feathery vanilla. Serve with scallops or a creamy pasta.
€ 16,70
Origin: France, Burgundy
Moments: Price-quality, Gift, Fish wine
Maison Louis Jadot, Bourgogne Blanc Couvent des Jacobins (2023)
Louis Jadot knows what he is doing, you can smell it, you can taste it. Exciting scents of spices rise. Yellow fruit, caramel, generous and generous. A crowd pleaser. Seductive until the last drop.
€ 24,80
Origin: France, Burgundy
Moments: Gift wine, Dinner wine, Gentleman's friend
Domaine André Bonhomme, Viré-Clessé Vieilles Vignes (2023)
Singing wine with electric acidity. Tight, fresh, spicy and complex. Flint, bacon, spice, fruit concentration, all in one glass. Energetic Burgundian.
€ 28,00
Origin: France, Burgundy
Moments: Fish wine, Poultry wine
Famille Masse, Montagny Premier Cru Les Terroirs (2023)
Class. Fresh citrus, subtle vanilla, toasted almond, some smokiness and a touch of buttercream. Tight on acidity, supple on the palate, with that fine Burgundian balance between power and elegance. Top on the dinner table. Solo? No punishment either.
€ 33,50
Origin: France, Burgundy
Moments: Fish wine, Relax wine, Gift wine
Lackner Tinnacher, Ried Eckberg Morillon (2022)
Gold in your glass! Morillon is the Austrian name for Chardonnay. Ripe peach, crackling yellow fruit, soft citrus, something creamy and some salty in the distance. Elegant wood use adds depth. Sommelier wine: trout, creamy pasta, monkfish, veal and poultry.
€ 24,50
Origin: Austria, Südsteiermark
Moments: Price-quality, Gift wine, Lunch wine, Fish wine
Domaine Françoise André, Beaune Premier Cru Bellisand (2022)
Lively, seductive, exciting, layered, complex, rich, soft... This premier cru caresses the tongue and excites the senses. Full of caramelised yellow fruit, toast, spice, apple syrup and caramel. With tight acidity and grip. Overwhelming.
€ 49,00
Origin: France, Burgundy
Moments: Favourite, Fish wine, Lunch wine, Party wine
Au Pied du Mont Chauve, Chassagne-Montrachet En Pimont (2021)
Talk about ‘golden girls’. This is one full-length! One of those wines for which words are inadequate. With subtly intertwined wood, quintessential pineapple acids, subtle spice and juicy apple. The water in your mouth will flow naturally. Perfect with fish with beurre blanc, poultry in cream sauce or lobster.
€ 75,00
Origin: France, Burgundy
Moments: Fish wine, Poultry wine, Party wine
Don't want to miss a single edition? Subscribe then subscribe to WINELIFE Magazine now!
Want to stay up to date with the best articles? Follow WINELIFE magazine on Instagram, Facebook and sign up for our fortnightly newsletter.
English (UK) 
Nederlands 
Deutsch