I Hope I Remember This Night
My Top Picks
By Karen MacNeil
January 23, 2026
California Chardonnay has never been better. I don’t say that casually.
It’s easy to make B- level Chardonnay that’s creamy, oaky, and boring. Making A+++ Chardonnay is infinitely harder. [memberonly nologin]
I remember the early days of the 1980s and 90s when hundreds of wineries began making Chardonnay, much of which tasted like St. Joseph’s Aspirin for Children. So many Chardonnays back then were saccharin, heavy, oleaginous, and so acidified that they buzzed like Crystal Light. In fact, those wines initiated an era-long backlash known as ABC (Anything But Chardonnay).
Today’s Chardonnays are lightyears better in every possible way. In northern California, most of them are from Sonoma, and many of the very best are from the cold, rugged Sonoma Coast famous for Chardonnays with a vivid sense of elegance and delicate richness.
After extensive tastings, the ten (actually eleven) wines below are my top Chardonnays from northern California. They’re sensational. I’ve put them into two general groups, although there’s some flavor overlap: Pure & Elegant and Rich & Plush. (I’ll do a separate Blog on the Chardonnays from Southern California and the Central Coast later in the year.) One final note: the stellar group below does not include the Chardonnays from Ramey and Kistler. They’re in a super league all their own and I’m saving them for a separate Blog. Here you go. Please try some of these!
Pure & Elegant
RADIO-COTEAU “Seabed” Chardonnay 2023 (Sonoma Coast, CA) $80
This wine’s sister—the Wingtine Chardonnay—was our Wine to Know on December 19, 2025. “Seabed” rides on the fresh aromas of the sky in winter and the ocean itself. Taut. Darting around with zesty orange and lime flavors, it’s very pure and concentrated.
97 Points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed
PEAY Chardonnay 2023 (West Sonoma Coast, CA) $53
The Peay Chardonnays are framed by such beautiful precision that they’re reminiscent of a ballet dancer. Bright. Vibrant. Kinetic. Minerally. Botanical. And full of crunchy fresh green apple and pear flavors. (Their “Maritima” Chardonnay is also great).
96 Points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed
FLOWERS Chardonnay 2023 (Sonoma Coast, CA)
Layer after layer of fresh citrus from Mandarin orange to Key lime. Loads of apple Tart Tatin flavors plus a lively white pepper/ sea salt spiciness. The Flowers wines always have a lot of “yummy” umami. (The Flowers “Camp Meeting Ridge’ Chardonnay is also superb.)
96 Points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed
DONUM Carneros Chardonnay 2023 (Carneros, Sonoma County, CA) $75
A cool wine in a cool year from a cool place. Almost feathery fresh. Very crisp and long with waves of vanilla bean, sea salt, and orange zest. A beautiful spice-cake spiciness is woven into the tapestry.
96 Points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed
HIRSCH Estate Chardonnay 2023 (Sonoma Coast, CA) $75
The Hirsch vineyards sit atop volcanic fault lines on the coast and the wines always have a fierce inner core that seems like crushed rock. Around this is the most beautiful creaminess and bright lime and white peach freshness. Aerial elegance.
96 Points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed
SCRIBE Skin-Fermented XIII “The Captain’s Verses” Chardonnay (Sonoma Valley, CA) $48
This fascinating Chardonnay (which was fermented on its skins) was our Wine to Know in the Jan 9, 2026 issue. Very dynamic and alive, it’s evocative of lime zest, sea salt, and minerals, with a streak of pure freshness going right through the center of the wine. Sophisticated bold texture.
96 Points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed
CATTLEYA “Cuvee Number Five” Chardonnay 2022 (Sonoma Coast, CA) $50
Delicious apple Danish and white pepper flavors open up to notes of meadows, citrus, white flowers, and the sea. There’s a lovely creamy crispiness here. Long and vibrant.
95 Points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed
Rich & Plush
DUMOL Estate Vineyard Chardonnay 2023 (Sonoma Coast, CA) $90
Made from grapes grown on the cool Sonoma coast, but in a super rich style. Toasty and creamy with notes of orange marmalade, white pepper, tarragon, pear tart, and lemongrass. A very exotic, delicious richness set off by lovely bursts of freshness.
96 Points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed
CHAPPELLET “Sangiacomo Vineyard” Chardonnay 2023 (Carneros, CA) $57
Delicious flavors evocative of an apple tart baked in puff pastry. Plus a kind of creamy orange citrusyness spiked with subtle notes of spice. Refined touches of vanillay oak. Lively and plush on the palate.
95 Points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed
MARIMAR ESTATE “Dobles Lias / Don Miguel Vineyard” Chardonnay 2022 (Russian River Valley, CA) $64
Dobles Lias (“Double Lees” in Spanish) indicates that this Chardonnay spent a long time on its yeast lees, giving the wine super-charged creaminess and wonderful complexity. Loads of spice cake, apple Danish, and vanilla bean notes with good freshness and minerality keeping the wine in balance. Very hedonistic.
95 Points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed
MERRY EDWARDS “Olivet Lane” Chardonnay 2023 (Russian River Valley, CA) $70
Classic, full-bodied Chardonnay for Chardonnay lovers who love dependable flavors. Mellow layers of citrus and vanilla. Delicious tropical notes without ever becoming cloying.
94 Points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed
Great Chardonnay is expensive. For a couple of simple, inexpensive Chardonnays that are Steals, consider:
