Bogle Vineyards does it again, with this $10 Chardonnay that will blow you away for the price. Oak, sliced apple and fresh crushed pears on the nose, with a crisp and smooth lasting finish that drinks like a pinot grigio. Has good balance and I guarantee this will surprise your friends that are anti-chardonnay, anti-butter, or anti-$10-dollar-wine. Your friends, wife, girlfriend, husband, boyfriend- whoever. Take one of their favorite bottles once it’s empty and sneak this in it’s place, and see what they think of it. They will be in for a surprise when you tell them not only are they drinking a California Chardonnay, but it cost you $10 (or less!). I rate this bottle 90 points.

I want to hear and see the results of your sneaky taste test, talk to me on twitter @ctfoodandwine. Disagree with me? I want to hear from you too.

Bogle Chardonnay 2010

Details from the Winemaker:

Winemaking is both an art and a science, and Bogle winemakers have again hand-crafted a perfectly balanced, yet complex Chardonnay. Using the techniques of barrel fermentation, sur-lie aging and partial malolactic fermentation, winemakers have layered flavor upon flavor, creating an easy-to-enjoy wine with generous character. Aromas of fruit and spice mingle and tantalize the senses as you first encounter this Chardonnay. Green apples and juicy pears give way to elegant hints of Meyer lemons, but circle back to finish ripe and refreshing on the palate. Created by aging on the lees, the rich and velvety mouthfeel takes the fruit to another level, allowing the flavors to sink softly into spicy vanilla notes of American oak. The finish, graceful as a lemon meringue, perfectly balances the wine’s creaminess and acidity.