Big Bear Californian Chardonnay 2022

Written By Campbell Mattinson

Big Bear Californian Chardonnay 2022
$14, screwcap, California.

This is an Aldi exclusive, made to please and to impress. It’s $14, and it’s arguably the best value buttery chardonnay on the Australian market.

It’s yellow in the glass, smells of bubble gum, throws peach, vanilla, butter and cashew flavours here and there, and also has a peppermint-like edge. It has pretty good “shape” as it flows through the mouth, and a ripe fruit sweetness, and enough buttery/caramel flavours to keep everyone happy. Basically, if you’re looking for a “buttery” chardonnay, you won’t find a better value example.

(Edit: This wine soon became hard to find. If you’re looking for an alternative in the same style/price range, check this wine out. For a few dollars extra, this is worth considering too.]

Campbell Mattinson

Campbell Mattinson has been an independent journalist, wine critic and photographer for forty years. He founded The Winefront, is a former chief editor of the Halliday Wine Companion (and former editor of Halliday magazine), and is the only Australian to have won the Australian Wine Communicator of the Year Award more than once. He is 100% independent, and tastes between 5,000 and 10,000 wines each year, blind and in comparative brackets as often as is practicable.

More about Campbell Mattinson

Mattinson is also the founder of the Mattinson Photography business.

https://www.campbellmattinson.com
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