Leslie Williams’s Irish Examiner column of 2 October 2026 recommends three Chardonnays from outside Burgundy, with one priced at €8.50 in the headline. The accessible article excerpt does not identify the bottles, so their names, regions, vintages, tasting notes and stockists cannot be confirmed here. The price is the article’s published figure, not a verified current offer.
How Chardonnay can differ by region
Williams’s case for Chardonnay’s versatility rests on contrasts between places rather than a single defining taste. She describes Chablis as “bone dry and stony,” Meursault as “lush and layered,” and Jura as “elegant and austere”; she characterizes Mendoza and Margaret River as “rounded and complex.” These are the columnist’s descriptions, not exhaustive definitions of every wine from those regions.
That range helps explain why Chardonnay may appeal to drinkers seeking very different styles. But the excerpt does not connect any of these regional examples to the three wines in the recommendation list, so it would be misleading to assign a particular style or origin to an unnamed bottle.
What is known about the three recommendations
The column recommends three Chardonnays from outside Burgundy. Its headline highlights one at €8.50 as of publication on 2 October 2026. The accessible excerpt supplies no bottle names, producers, vintages, individual tasting notes, stockists or current availability.
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Without those details, readers cannot reliably identify the recommended wines or compare them bottle by bottle. The €8.50 figure should be treated as the price reported in the headline on that date, not as a current Irish retail price.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where to find the original column
Read Leslie Williams’s column in the Irish Examiner. Williams has been the newspaper’s wine columnist since 2012, according to the biography on the article result page. Consult the full article for the specific recommendations, then check a retailer for live Irish availability and pricing.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- origin: a/o usa
- type of wine: white
- Country string: united_states
- Item weight: 1.59 pounds
- Vintage may vary
Rank #4
- Four 187mL wine bottles of Sutter Home Chardonnay Wine
- Awarded Gold from the 2017 Houston Livestock & Rodeo, 2018 International Women's Wine Competition and 2018 Indy International
- California wine with creamy peach and juicy apple flavors
- White wine pairs well with pork chops, creamy pastas, or mild and flavorful cheeses
- Ripe pear and zesty citrus aromas with rich, creamy tones and a full, lingering finish
Rank #3
- One 750 ml wine bottle of Josh Cellars Chardonnay
- White wine with flavors of bright citrus and honey
- Full bodied, white wine with a bright, fresh palate
- Serve this California wine chilled to experience its full flavor profile
- Chardonnay wine pairs perfectly with shrimp, steamed mussels, creamy pastas, roasted chicken and grilled vegetables
Rank #2
- Quickly followed by a burst of Bing cherry, the entry is full of rich, dense red fruits
- Delivery Restrictions Apply. Please refer to our Help page for details
- Vintage may vary
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