WINELEGEND.COM

Let’s talk candidly about California Chardonnays. In the “under $25” category, there are a lot of Chardonnays that don’t come close to delivering the goods. At Wine Legend, we are very selective when buying inexpensive Chards. Today’s offer represents the real deal, a quality $20 Chardonnay that tastes like it should cost a whole lot more.

It is the goal of Bernardus owner Ben Pon to create wines from the promising viticultural region of Carmel Valley that will rival in style and quality the finest traditional wines. At Bernardus the textural element-"the mouth feel'-is the most important expression of wine. At a time when there is an increasing conversion of established French wine estates from seasoned wooden tanks to rows of stainless steel, Bernardus Winery was constructed to create traditional wines. Wines are aged in oak tanks and barrels specially crafted for Bernardus in the French region of Bordeaux and Burgundy. Oak is purchased from many coopers in France to allow for blending of different flavors, or "the spice rack approach".

This is a serious operation and a serious wine. And for twenty bucks, this is a seriously good deal. Check out Wine Spectator’s 92 point review.