what does chardonnay taste like

Chardonnay is a versatile wine that can taste different depending on where it grows and how its made. Typically, Chardonnay is a dry, medium- to full-bodied wine with moderate acidity and alcohol. Its flavors range from apple and lemon to papaya and pineapple, and it also shows notes of vanilla when it’s aged with oak. Unoaked Chardonnays tend to offer fragrant notes of green apple, pear, and citrus, with some chalky or mineral-like aromas, while oaked Chardonnays present rich aromas of peach, mango, and lemon, accompanied by notes of vanilla, butter, and often a hint of toasted bread or nuttiness due to the influence of oak, malolactic fermentation, and lees stirring. Chardonnay naturally has fruit notes that are often described as reminiscent of melons and autumn orchard fruits. The flavors of Chardonnay can express hints of lemon zest, green apple, and grapefruit when unoaked, but if the wine is aged in oak barrels, the flavor profile will take on additional characteristics such as buttery and vanilla notes. Chardonnay can be crisp and clean, or rich and oaky, making it a beloved wine due to its wide range of flavors and styles.