Sipping Your Way Through December—Day 17

2023 Bouchaine Unoaked Chardonnay ($40)

This is not your parents’ oaky, buttery, Chardonnay.
This unoaked Napa Valley Chardonnay is crisp and lively, and what I call a ‘wine without makeup.’

Made entirely without the use of oak barrels, this Chardonnay is pure and precise. Fermented in a stainless-steel tank and a concrete egg, then bottled without lees stirring, the wine gets its taste, texture, and tension solely from the grapes.

Bouchaine’s history with Chardonnay dates back to 1984, when owners Tatiana and Gerret Copland planted vines on their estate overlooking San Pablo Bay. Legendary winemaker André Tchelistcheff recognized the site’s potential for Burgundian varieties and encouraged them to plant Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. More than 40 years later, those original vines, now mature, form the backbone of the estate. Today, Bouchaine farms 31 acres of Chardonnay, much of it from the original plantings, which winemaker Chris Kajani calls her “secret sauce.”

In the glass, the 2023 vintage is lively and expressive. Aromas of white peach and fresh pear lead the way, followed by delicate floral notes. On the palate, juicy pear and stone fruit are lifted by bright lemon zest and a subtle saline note, keeping the wine lively. There’s texture here, but it’s energetic rather than heavy, and it finishes with a mouthwatering freshness. Wine pros would call it a very ‘drinkable’ wine.

This is a Chardonnay made for the table. Its brightness and balance make it especially food-friendly, pairing well with full-flavored fish like salmon or a classic chicken dish, such as Chicken Francese.

If you think you “don’t like Chardonnay,” this bottle might just change your mind.

Purchase the wine for $40 (plus shipping) at bouchaine.com.