Everything You Need to Know About Buttery Wine

If you’ve ever opened a wine bottle and instantly been reminded of delicious buttery popcorn, then you’ve got a buttery wine! 

Usually used as a descriptor or white wines, especially Chardonnay, this refers to the wines texture, flavor, smell, or a combination of all. 

These tasting notes result from malolactic fermentation and will remind you of melted butter. 

We’ll explore buttery wine in detail and even suggest 10 decadent bottles you can try to experience this unique buttery flavor and texture!

What is Buttery Wine? 

Buttery wine is a style of wine that’ll remind you of melted butter through its smell, texture, and flavor. 

This is due to diacetyl, a natural by-product of malolactic fermentation. Since diacetyl is also added to popcorn, margarine, and crackers, a glass of buttery wine will remind you of these as well. 

What is Malolactic Fermentation?

Malolactic fermentation is the process that turns tart malic acid found in wine into the creamier lactic acid - which is also found in dairy products. 

This process reduces the wine’s acid content and releases carbon dioxide while producing diacetyl. This fermentation process is also called a malolactic conversion.

What does buttery wine taste like?

Since malic acid has a tart, green apple-like flavor, buttery wine will typically have these tasting notes. Exposing wine to an oak barrel emphasizes these buttery notes and softens the wine texture. 

Buttery wine relies on both these oak and fruit flavors, leading to them having specific common tasting notes of vanilla, oak, stone fruit, apples, and almonds. 

Are All Oaked Wines Buttery Wines? 

It’s easy to confuse buttery wine with oaked wine, but they’re not exclusive. 

Chardonnaysmay be aged in an oaked barrel to give the wine a more nuanced spice flavor profile. 

However, an unoaked Chardonnay can also have these flavors as long as it goes through the malolactic fermentation process. 

While Chardonnay wines are typically described as a buttery wine, there are other scrumptious white wines that can be described as "buttery" as well - for instance, aged white Rioja, some Chenin Blanc wines, and some Australian Sémillon wines.

Let’s explore all of them. 

Top 10 Luscious Buttery Wines You Can Try Today! 

Here are our top 10 picks for lovely, buttery wines. 

• 2008 Domaine Leflaive Montrachet Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune, France 
• 2010 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Montrachet Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune, France 
• 2014 Domaine Ponsot Montrachet Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune, France 
• 2002 Marcassin Estate Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast, USA 
• 1981 R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Reserva Blanco, Rioja DOCa, Spain 
• 2008 Peter Michael 'Point Rouge' Chardonnay, Sonoma County, USA
• 2014 Kongsgaard Chardonnay, Napa Valley, USA 
• 2015 Kistler Vineyards Vine Hill Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, USA 
• 2013 Alheit Vineyards 'Cartology' Bush Vines, Western Cape, South Africa
• 2012 Barefoot Chardonnay, California, USA 

1. 2008 Domaine Leflaive Montrachet Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune, France ($26,943)

This French Chardonnay opens up with notes of yellow and white fruit, minerals, spice, and oak. The full-bodied flavor is wonderfully balanced with a refreshing minerality and a long finish. 

2. 2010 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Montrachet Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune, France ($15,565)

A stunning white wine with fresh and ripe peach, acacia, citrus, and pineapple aromas, it cuts through the buttery flavors with an intense minerality, making this wine not one to miss! 

3. 2014 Domaine Ponsot Montrachet Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune, France ($3,971)

The bashful Montrachet slowly opens with a bouquet of vanilla, apples, pears, and almond. Its balancing citrus palate fills your mouth with minerality and intensity, culminating in a beautifully long finish. 

4. 2002 Marcassin Estate Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast, USA ($834)

The esteemed Marcassin estate, known for its opulent Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines, produces another equally decadent white wine. 

This 2002 vintage showcases notes of hazelnut, nectarine, crushed rock, with just a touch of smoke to bring you a full-bodied, buttery Chardonnay. 

5. 1981 R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Reserva Blanco, Rioja DOCa, Spain ($803)

This Rioja White Blend features a complex nose of succulent herbs, vanilla, baking spices, and toasted nuts with a contradictory yet complementary texture. The palate's poached apple and pear flavors bring the wine together for a tight finish. 

6. 2008 Peter Michael 'Point Rouge' Chardonnay, Sonoma County, USA ($586)

This 2008 California Chardonnay is a luscious, rich wine with tremendous tropical fruit, hazelnuts, white peaches, and almond notes. However, it balances these buttery notes with hints of crushed rock, mace, and anise. 

7. 2014 Kongsgaard Chardonnay, Napa Valley, USA ($226)

Napa Valley in the United States is known for producing some of the best wines in the world, and this 2014 vintage is no exception. It offers you beautiful apricot, pineapple, white peach, honeysuckle, and crushed rock aromas. The wine texture, flavor, and smell come together with a spicy oakiness. 

8. 2015 Kistler Vineyards Vine Hill Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, USA ($204)

This wine entices you with an aroma of jasmine, ginger, brioche, and marzipan over a citrus core. A medium-to-full-bodied white wine, the 2015 vintage is ideal for any dinner party or special occasion. 

9. 2013 Alheit Vineyards 'Cartology' Bush Vines, Western Cape, South Africa ($60)

The Cartology features rare parcels of mature dryland vines, including Chenin Blanc and Semillon. The nose shows bright citrus, pear, and apple notes with warm honeysuckle and fennel. The similarly bright palate is evidenced by honey, quince, and stone fruits hints. 

10. 2012 Barefoot Chardonnay, California, USA ($20)

This vintage Barefoot buttery Chardonnay is dripping with flavorful Fuji apple and honeyed peach. Smooth and golden in color, this medium-weight wine has a sweet vanilla aroma that will have you floating on a cloud! 

So, can you invest in a buttery wine, and how do you go about doing that?  

Is It Worth Investing in Buttery Wine? 

A buttery wine can fall into various price points: a French Chardonnay like a Domaine Leflaive can be investment-worthy, while the more affordable Barefoot wine is ideal for casual drinking. 

Many of the wines explored above will also keep for a good decade or more and open up as time goes on. 

So we can safely say that buttery wine from some regions or wineries is definitely worth long-term investing. 

Enjoy The Buttery Goodness While You Invest!

A buttery wine can help you drift into the land of warm aromas and tastes, where vanilla, oak, and fruits reign supreme. 

Whether you want to add a luxurious buttery white wine or a tannic red wine to your collection, Vinovest can help you with it all!  

Vinovest is a world-class online wine investment company that uses greater security and top-notch privacy practices to protect your investment.