I recently had the opportunity to taste some Chardonnays from Artesa, and they seemed to be made with care, not to mention nearly 500 years of winemaking experience and savvy, dating back to the early Codorniu wines made in Spain.
Artesa Elements Chardonnay ($16) has subtle oak, good balance and bright fruit flavors. But, step up a few bucks to Artesa Carneros Chardonnay ($20) and you'll discover a Chardonnay with more richness and gorgeous aromatics. There are white flower notes on the nose, along with peach and pear flavors on the palate, combined with good minerality: a lovely wine for 20 bucks. Bump the budget up another ten dollars and it'll afford you a chance to sip Artesa Carneros Estate Reserve Chardonnay ($30), a complex wine with a lingering finish - one you may want to drink now, but is very well-structured and will get even better with aging.