jeffp, that is exactly the way I felt about chardonney until I finally found out that much of the chardonney and certainly the calif chardonney is stored in oak until it takes up the flavor. ask about non-oaked chardonney I think much of it comes from AUstraila that makes a darn good cheap non-oaked chardonney and I bet you will change your mind! ALso Poilly Fuisse is a French predominately chardonney that you will probably like.