The butteriness that we often associate with Chardonnay can be a result of a process called malolactic fermentation.
Malolactic fermentation is a strange process that isn't actually fermentation but a chemical process that can start naturally or be induced by the winemaker. It changes the harsher initial malic acid flavours in the wine (that taste like apples) into lactic acid flavours that taste like creamy milk. The change between the two acid types - malic to lactic - gives the name to the process - malolactic.
The warmer the climate in which 'malo' happens results in a greater change to the wine. So in hot grape-growing California this process can result in an extreme buttery richness.
There's another contributor to those rich Chardonnay flavours - oak barrels. Those fresh wood shaving aromas and flavours come from either fermenting the wine in oak or leaving the just-finished wine in barrels for 18 months or longer.
Lees aging is another method that can add flavour to Chardonnay. Lees are the layer of dead yeast cells that result from the grape juice fermenting. Leaving the wine on these lees adds body and creamy flavours. This process is known as 'sur lie' in France and can often be seen added to bottle labels where the wine has gone through this.
So now you've found all those creamy flavours in the wine, what food do you match with it? Creamier Chardonnays are best matched to foods with richer sauces - why not try with a chicken in a cheesy sauce or pasta Carbonara.
But which Chardonnays have these buttery flavours?
Here are the Top Ten wineuncorked.co.uk recommendations
Domaine Gayda Collection Chardonnay 2019
£10 Highbury Vintners
Flavours of buttery pineapple upside down pudding, almonds and pears has a balancing celery dryness making this an enjoyable match to a roast chicken salad or mushroom risotto.
Hardys Bankside Chardonnay 2019
£6.50 Morrisons
Ripe banana and tinned peaches aromas along with some balancing fresh apple then flavours of lemon and oaky butteriness.
£8.99 Aldi
A modern Australian Chardonnay with just enough oak to match the fruitfulness without being overpowering. The creamy pear, melon and peach flavours are a match to curry and quiches.
Warwick Cape Lady Chardonnay 2017
£6 Morrisons
An oaky chardonnay with wet wood, apple and melon flavours. Hints of coconut and sesame.
Tesco Finest Valle de Leyda Chardonnay 2019
£8 Tesco
Fruity and slightly buttery, this is a modern Chardonnay made in Chile that has none of the overly buttery flavours of USA Chardonnay from the 1990s. Nicely balanced.
£15.99 Majestic
A Californian Chardonnay showing high-levels of buttery oak barrel flavours.
Wakefield Jaraman Chardonnay 2018
£17.99 Majestic
Juicy peach and melon flavours with some subtle oak wood coming through.
£7.50 SPAR
Fruity and creamy with buttery apple and apricot flavours.
£5.50 Morrisons, Tesco, Sainsbury’s
A really oaky Californian Chardonnay in the old unsubtle style. Some pear and peach flavours hanging on in there.
Banrock Station Chardonnay 2020
£7.50 Co-op
It comes in a flat plastic bottle but the wine inside is your usual lightly buttery Australian Chardonnay. Apricot, peach, lemon and baked apple make this a pleasant wine.
