Beringer’s cheapest Chardonnay offering currently retails for a mere $8 to $10, and while we’ve found outstanding wines in the past at the $10 range, will Beringer provide the same value?

The first thing we noticed about the new Founder’s Estate bottles are their beautifully designed labels. They have that letter pressed style texture on quality paper with a new black seal stamped on the center. The bottles certainly look expensive and are pleasing to the eye, but don’t be fooled.

The wine seems to be a genuine attempt at a tasty value wine, but there is really just too much burn and alcohol to be worth buying. There is a hint of green apple, but mostly stewed fruit and vanilla notes from the substantial time this wine spent in oak. The flavors are creamy and what you’d expect for a classic oaked chardonnay profile, and we really wanted to love this wine… we really did.

The alcohol at 13.9% just really scorches your throat and kills anything resembling a finish from this wine. Skip this cheap juice and spend an extra $2-$3 for Chateau St. Jean’s 2010 Chardonnay, which is much better (87 Points) for only a few additional dollars.