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I am not the most experienced wine-drinker, being 28 years-old, but you should not stop at Kendall Jackson in your exploration of chardonnay. Buying 8 to 10 dollar bottles of wine is a tough market, and it takes some exploration to find wines that you like for the price you want to pay. Going up to fifteen dollars isn't a guarantee of a notable quality increase either.

Firstly, I would avoid the ultra large wine-makers all together. It's really easy to grow some weak grapes in California, throw them in tons of oak and sell the wine for 10 bucks a bottle. All the Gallo, Fetzer, Kendall Jackson, Meridian, yadda yadda tastes the same.
Go to Trader Joe's and buy two $5 wines that seem interesting and I guarantee you can find a match for that quality. I found a really good buttery chardonnay from Santa Barbara for like 3 bucks there (forgot the name). TJ's is really good at supplying good and cheap wine...trust them. Otherwise, at Safeway, buy Chateau St. Michelle Chard. from Washington...good...better than KJ in my humble opinion.
Go beyond Chardonnay as a varietal as well. I've been loving Viogner lately. McManis, available at BevMo is reasonable and very interesting. Full bodied...tastes unique...not like chardonnay...herbaceous. Try it.

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