Dragon Hills Chardonnay (Romania)

Nose:  Pretty fruity, but not citrusy.  Maybe apples or pears with vanilla.

Taste:  Dry and peary but definitely with some honey - but it's not syrupy.

Finish:  Finishes a tiny bit bitter with lingering dry honey.

What we say:  S - "I like the yellow colour of it - it's almost neon!"  "Do you think it has flowers in it?  I mean, it comes from Romania, it's not like they have pineapples."  V - "I quite like the nose, whatever it is"  S - "This is a really weird wine.  Did you taste a little bit of black liquorice in the end, or am I making that up?"  V - "I think I like it more the more I drink it"  S - "Yeah, and particularly given that it's so honeylicious, you'd think you wouldn't be able to drink a lot, but it's not sickly sweet."

What they say:  Crisp, with ample ripe tropical fruits and a light refreshing finish.

Rating:  5.5 (S - 5; V - 6)  We debated over this.  It's one of the more interesting wines we've had, and fun to try, but we're not sure under what circumstances you'd drink copious amounts of it.

Price:  £7.99

C4 Barossa Valley Chardonnay 2011 (Australia)

Nose:  Fruity, kind of a sweet citrus.  Maybe a bit of vanilla that gives it the sweet element.

Taste:  Almost like a really fresh grape, but not as sweet.  Pretty crisp.

Finish:  Somewhat bitter but not unpleasant - maybe minerals.

What we say: S - 'Wow, it's strong. I think I can smell it from here.... or is that just the flowers?'  V - 'The finish tastes like dessert.'  S - 'It's pretty fresh and refreshing'  V - 'I have no idea what that taste is.'  S - 'It's a bit tangy, or tart.'  V - 'It's sort of like mineral water without the bubbles.'  S - 'It's crisp, like when you have the first coating of ice on something.'

What they say:  Fresh and vibrant with tropical notes and a mid-weight body.

Rating:  7 (S - 8; V - 6)

Price:  £9.99

Sail Chardonnay 2011 (USA)

Nose:  Fresh and citrusy.  A sweet element - maybe pinapple or vanilla?  Really quite pleasant.

Taste:  Definitely citrusy, particularly towards the end.  Slight sweetness to it - again it might be vanilla.

Finish:  Pretty tart - almost lemon but not quite.

What we say:  V - 'There's something slightly desserty about the nose.  I almost think I smell meringue or something.  I can imagine this as a cake or a pie.'  'It's a bit syrupy in texture' 'It's not the most compelex wine we've had, but it's pretty decent.'  

What they say:  Crisp citrus fruit with weighty, melon flavors.

Rating:  6.5 (S - 6; V - 7)

Kinniemuin Hilltops Chardonnay 2011 (Australia)

Nose:  Definitely citrusy and fresh, maybe a bit of vanilla
 
Taste: Slightly sweet or nectary, balanced with sour fruit.  Again, maybe a bit of vanilla

Finish:  Acidic, though not unpleasant.

What we say:  S - 'It's almost like there's a juice in it.  I think there might be grapefruit, but that might be the fish talking.'

What they say: Lightly oaked and fruit-driven.

Rating: 5

Château Edmond de la Fontaine Chardonnay Grand Premier Cru 2010 (Luxembourg)

Nose:  Citrusy, a little bit of vanilla?  Grapefruit?

Taste:  Definitely citrusy and grapefruit, quite dry

Finish:  A bit of sour grapefruit

What we say:  V - 'It almost smells like a citrus desert.  Very pleasant though.'

What they say:  Nuttin'

Rating:  6.5 (V - 6; S - 7)

High Dive Chardonnay 2010 (USA)

Nose:  Sweet, with vanilla and citrus, maybe grapefruit.  Smooth and fresh.

Taste:  Bold flavour.  Pineapple, maybe grapefruit, definitely citrusy and acid.  Pretty dry

Finish:  Somewhat acid citrus finish, but not in a bad way, though quite pronounced.

What we say:  V- "It's a really nice combination on the nose."  S- "It's like a heavy white." "Every time you put your nose in the glass, you get a hit of vanilla."

What they say:  Nuttin'

Rating:  8

Belle Tour Chardonnay 2010 (France)

Nose: Definitely fruity, maybe warm tropical fruits.  Sort of like a ripe pineapple, pear, maybe some grapefruit?

Taste: Slightly sweet, but not sickeningly so. Has a bit of carbon to it.

Finish: More bitter than the taste, but not in a bad way.

What we say:  S - "The initial taste is almost the syrup of canned fruit, but just not as sweet."

What they say:  Blend of ripe peachy fruit and subtle creaminess with a touch of oak.

Rating:  4.5 (S - 4, V - 5)