Pretentious, moi? I never buy wine that costs more than a fiver, preferably on special. Pretentious isn't the word. Discriminating is the one you're looking for. Chardonnay still wine is the drink of the ignoranti, rather like Liebfraumilch used to be in the 70s. Avoid NZ whites which are all over-priced and usually too cloying. Sauvignon blanc can be good, mainly from France, maybe the odd Chilean, but there are some real shitters around. Pinot grigio, yawn. A good steely Italian white from Vesuvio, or the exceptionally dependable Viña Sol from Torres, is my recommendation for decent budget white. Some nice Marsanne from the south of France too, sunshine in a glass. Leave the Chardonnay for the kids and the Essex girls. About your level, actually. Someone's got to drink it I suppose. Oaky whites? I puke in your general direction.