A waltz through five Chardonn-ish wines

From Wine Vids

Domaine du Tariquet Côté Chardonnay/Sauvignon 2008, Vin de Pays des Côtes de Gascogne, France
Quite tangy and smoky, with peachy, almost Mâcon-like Chardonnay characters sitting nicely with the crispness of Sauvignon. B+

Domaine du Tariquet Chenin/Chardonnay 2008, Vin de Pays des Côtes de Gascogne, France
Quite full with waxy per and peach fruit, but it’s held back by a rather stolid, a clay-like heaviness. Would have been better with more Chardonnay. C(+)

Argento Chardonnay 2009, Mendoza, Argentina (£5.99 Majestic)
Some smoky oak on the nose, touch of vanilla fudge, then crisp, friendly melon, apple and peach flavours, with the oak in balance with the fruit. B

Hacienda El Espino ‘1707’ Barrel-Fermented Chadonnay 2007, Almansa, Spain (£8.99 The Real Wine Company)
Soft, easy drinking wine, oak there but certainly not dominant, although the ageing has knocked the fresher edges of the pineapple chunk and cling peach flavours, leaving something akin to fruit cocktail syrup. B-

Clos du Val Carneros Chardonnay 2006, Napa Valley, California (£18.99 www.henningswine.co.uk)
Nose of fudge and slightly sour butter. This is supposed to be from the cooler parts of Napa, but it’s a rather top-heavy, forced style, with obvious oak and malolactic fermentation (which gives the buttery edge), rather obvious tropical fruit flavours and a slightly metallic note on the finish. Not a success. B(-)