Full Review

Exquisite Collection

Exquisite Collection
2019 Chardonnay, California

Pair this wine with:
Chicken Shellfish Turkey

Category: Chardonnay

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 13.7%
88 Points
Silver Medal
Highly Recommended
$7.99
Best Buy

Exquisite Collection
2019 Chardonnay, California

Pair this wine with:
Chicken Shellfish Turkey

Category: Chardonnay

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 13.7%
Straw color. Fruity aromas and flavors of toast with marmalade, baked peaches, and pineapples with a satiny, vibrant, fruity light-to-medium body and a smooth, medium-length finish with heavy oak flavor. An easy-drinking oaky Chardonnay for effortless pairing and sipping.

Tasting Info

Wine Glass Style: Fruity, Juicy & Smooth & Oaky
Aroma Aroma: toast with marmalade, baked peaches, and pineapples
Taste Flavor: toast with marmalade, baked peaches, and pineapples
Sweetness Sweetness: Fruity
Enjoy Enjoy: Now on its own and with food
Recipes Pairing: Turkey, Roasted Chicken, Boiled Lobster
Bottom Line Bottom Line: An easy-drinking oaky Chardonnay for effortless pairing and sipping.

The Retailer

Aldi Inc.

The Retailer
1200 North Kirk Road
Batavia, IL 60510
USA
1 630-425-7394

Their Portfolio

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90 30 Miles 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 15% (USA) $14.99.
88 30 Miles 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 14.1% (USA) $14.99.
87 Bear Bros 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, California 13.5% (USA) $8.99.
88 Bear Bros 2021 Rosé, Sonoma Coast 13% (USA) $7.99.
87 Bear Bros 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon, California 13.5% (USA) $8.99.
90 Belletti NV Prosecco, Veneto DOC 11% (Italy) $8.99.
85 Big Brother Hard Root Beer 5.8% (USA)
88 Brecken Bock 4.5% (USA)
89 Brens German Style Lager 5% (Belgium)
88 Connellys NV Original Country Cream 13.9% (Ireland) $8.99.
90 Corte Bella Rosso 5.5% (Italy) $6.99.
90 Crestwood 2019 Barrel, Riesling, Columbia Valley 13% (USA) $5.99.
88 Crestwood 2018 Barrel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley 13.5% (USA) $9.99.
88 Don’t Mind If I Do 2019 Pinot Noir, California 9% (USA) $7.99.
87 Don’t Mind If I Do 2020 Sauvignon Blanc, California 9% (USA) $7.99.
90 Elementalist 2019 Pinot Grigio, California 12% (USA) $6.99.
87 Elementalist 2020 Pinot Grigio, California 12% (USA) $6.99.
90 Elementalist 2021 Pinot Grigio, Mendocino County 12% (USA) $6.99.
90 Evanta 2021 Malbec, Argentina 13% (Argentina) $4.49.
88 Exquisite Collection 2019 Chardonnay, California 13.7% (USA) $7.99.
88 Exquisite Collection 2020 Malbec, Mendoza 13.5% (Argentina) $7.99.
89 Exquisite Collection 2020 Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough 12.5% (New Zealand) $8.99.
88 Exquisite Collection 2020 Rosé, Côtes de Provence 12.5% (France) $9.99.
87 Exquisite Collection 2021 Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough 12.5% (New Zealand) $8.99.
88 Fancy Flock 2019 Red Blend, Valdepenas 13% (Spain) $3.99.
88 Flora & Stone 2021 Merlot, Mendocino County 13.5% (USA) $6.99.
92 Giambellino Peach Bellini, Germany 8% (Germany) $5.99.
86 Holland Lager 5% (Holland)
93 Holland Lager 1839 5.0% (Netherlands)
88 Hopping Nomad Session IPA 4.5% (USA)
92 Independence Harbor Amber Ale 5.5% (USA)
91 Maguires Draught Stout 4.2% (USA)
87 Merchants Keep IPA 6% (USA)
88 Outlander 2018 Meritage, Paso Robles 13.9% (USA) $7.99.
89 Outlander 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles 13.9% (USA) $8.99.
89 Outlander 2019 Meritage, Paso Robles 13.9% (USA) $7.99.
92 Peaks & Tides 2018 Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast 13.9% (USA) $12.99.
89 Peaks & Tides 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County 13.9% (USA) $11.99.
88 Peaks & Tides 2019 Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast 13.9% (USA) $12.99.
87 Quarter Cut 2020 Bourbon-Barrel Aged, Cabernet Sauvignon, California 14.5% (USA) $9.99.
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87 Quarter Cut 2021 Bourbon Barrel-Aged, Cabernet Sauvignon, California 13.9% (USA) $9.99.
87 Quarter Cut 2021 Bourbon Barrel-Aged Red Blend, California 13.9% (USA) $9.99.
88 Sargent Canyon 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Coast 13.5% (USA) $6.99.
90 Scarlet Path 2019 Zinfandel, Lodi 13.5% (USA) $8.99.
87 Scarlet Path 2020 Zinfandel, Lodi 13.8% (USA) $8.99.
88 State of Brewing Pumpkin Ale 6% (USA)
87 State of Brewing Pumpkin Pie Cider 5.0% (USA) $7.99.
88 Stormchaser 2018 Wild Ride Red, Columbia Valley 14% (USA) $6.99.
87 Stormchaser 2019 Wild Ride Red Blend, Columbia Valley 14% (USA) $6.99.
90 Sunshine Bay 2020 Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough 12.5% (New Zealand) $7.95.
90 Sunshine Bay 2021 Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough 12.5% (New Zealand) $7.95.
88 Tailslide 2019 Pinot Noir, California 13.7% (USA) $6.99.
87 Tailslide 2021 Pinot Noir, California 13.7% (USA) $6.99.
88 Villanella 2020 Pinot Grigio, Alto-Adige 12.5% (Italy) $9.99.
85 Vista Bay Natural Lime 5% (Germany)
85 Vista Bay Ruby Grapefruit 5% (Germany)
88 Vista Bay Hard Seltzer Lemonade 5% (USA)
93 Vve Monsigny NV Brut, Champagne 12% (France) $19.99.
88 Wernesgrüner Brauerei Pils 4.9% (Germany)
92 Wernesgrüner Brauerei Pils Legende 4.9% (Germany)
86 White Tide Belgian Wheat Ale 5% (Belgium)
90 Wicked Grove Crisp Apple Hard Cider 5% (USA) $6.99.
87 Wicked Grove Pearsecco Bubbly Dry Cider 5% (USA) $7.99.
92 Wicked Grove Hard Cider 5.0% (USA) $7.99.
88 Wild Range IPA 6.9% (USA)
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89 William Wright 2019 William Wright Reserve, Pinot Noir, Monterey County 13.5% (USA) $9.99.
89 William Wright 2020 Reserve Lot, Pinot Noir, Monterey County 13.5% (USA) $9.99.
87 William Wright 2020 Chardonnay, Monterey County 13.5% (USA) $6.99.
87 Zarita Margarita RTD, California 13.9% (USA) $13.99.

Chardonnay

Wine Glass White.jpg
Serve in a White Wine Glass
Chardonnay is arguably the world’s most famous white variety, thanks to its success in France’s Burgundy region as well as throughout much of California. Chardonnay on its own has rather straightforward, pleasant aromas of apple and pear, but when aged (and sometimes fermented) in small oak barrels, the wines take on extra richness as well as notes of toasted almond, vanilla and yeast.

The most renowned examples of Chardonnay are from small villages and vineyards in Burgundy, such as Chassagne-Montrachet, Puligny-Montrachet and Meursault. These wines are very powerful with ample spicy notes and very good acidity; they age very well, sometimes as long as 20-25 years. Another part of Burgundy, Chablis, is home to more restrained style of Chardonnay. Certain areas of California, especially Russian River Valley in Sonoma and Santa Barbara County are also home to many distinguished examples of Chardonnay, with those from the latter region often displaying tropical fruit flavors.

Given that most Chardonnnays are aged in small oak barrels, there has been a movement as of late to give consumers a mored delicate style of Chardonnay, without all the spicy and toasty flavors. Thus there are now many producers that produce non-oak aged Chardonnays; this has been seen from many producers from Australia as well as a few in California as well.

Chardonnay, especially oak-aged versions, are quite rich and need seafood of equal richness at the dinner table. Thus lobster, halibut and swordfish are ideal food pairings.