CHARDONNAY

Bianchi Winery 2006 Edna Valley Chardonnay / Paso Robles Beautiful bright golden color with intense tropical fruit aromas, this fruit forward chardonnay is a product of the wonderful Edna Valley of the Paso Robles region. Slight citrus tones marry up with tropical pineapple, kiwi and creamy banana. Aged in oak barrels to give this wine a toasty, vanilla oak flavor. Superbly balanced.

Burrell School Vineyards 2005 “Teacher's Pet" Chardonnay / Santa Cruz Mountains Sourced from their estate vineyard located at over 1500 feet in the Santa Cruz Mountains, this lively Chardonnay shows nice flavor development, as well as a crisp, refreshing acidity. When sipped slowly, the wine unfurls with layers of flavor, opening with ripe red apple, apricot, and toasty oak, then flowing into enriched hints of citrus, caramel, and nut. A lovely, bright wine that deserves the company of lime and ginger grilled prawns with cilantro-garlic butter. Enjoy a bottle now or cellar it for 3-5 years and see what treat awaits. Score: 88

Byington Winery 2006 Chardonnay / Santa Cruz Mountains Sourced from the Redwood Hill Vineyard, the fruit was aged in French oak prior to bottling. Swirl the glass and enjoy the rich aromas of creamy oak and tropical fruit that rise up. With a sip, smooth flavors of apple, pear, apricot, and vanilla drift over the palate. Full-bodied with a slightly creamy mouthfeel, this wine would pair well with braised shrimp pasta in a creamy sauce. Score: 83

Chateau Felice Winery 2006 Chardonnay / Chalk Hill The rich golden color of this 100% chardonnay estate grown wine hints at its rich toasty vanilla aromas surrounded by Meyers lemon zest, flint, and rose geranium. Flavored with orchards of another era of Sonoma history, taste the nectarine, lemon, papaya, sweet almond, and ripe pear that gives way to a floral, lemon verbena finish with zesty acids and a soft hint of English toffee. Pair a nice chilled bottle of this oh so drinkable wine with your favorite summer salad topped with left over salmon, or freshly skewered shrimp. Eat light, feel refreshed, and have that second bottle handy - you'll be wanting it.

Chateau St. Jean, 1998 Belle Terre Vineyard Alexander Valley Chardonnay, An intense tropical-fruit-forward nose emanates from this Chardonnay with some sweet blossoming flower accents. This is a rich wine with a clean smoked oak finish. The complex full texture and flavor will lend itself to accompany hearty shellfish such Cajun grilled prawns or a salad of Heirloom tomatoes with fresh mozzarella. (707) 833-4134 Kenwood, CA

Chalone Vineyard 1998 Chardonnay Demonstrates an incredible level of balance. A dominating nose of tropical fruit with aromas of pineapple, peaches, apples and tangerines. The enigma is that the fruit intensity and pure ripeness, which should make for a sweet wine, is actually dry. This big wine goes well with all types of seafood, chicken, or even pork dishes.This wine will improve over the next year and will hold for three to five years. Good choice. Retail: 31.00 (Address: Chalone P.O. Box 518, Soledad, CA 93960. 831-678-1717)

Cinnabar 2006 Chardonnay / Santa Cruz Mountains Temperatures varied during the 2006 growing season, but overall the year was long and dry with the fruit maturing at a leisurely pace. Rich, creamy vanilla, butterscotch, oak, apple, and peach aromas encompass a layered bouquet. When sipped slowly, apple, pear, vanilla, banana, and a dash of sweet spice drift over the palate. Smooth, with just the right zip of acidity, this wine is highly drinkable. A chicken Caesar salad would be a very nice pairing for this wine. Open a bottle now, or give it a few years to develop. Score: 89

Clos LaChance 2006 Chardonnay / Santa Cruz Mountains Sourced from ten select vineyards and aged in oak for ten months, the resulting wine presents with a lovely, soft straw color. A classic Chardonnay nose of peach, granny-smith apple, pear, and creamy oak rises from a freshly swirled glass. The palate recreates the nose with the same fruit flavors touched by hints of sweet spice, vanilla, and oak. Open a bottle and sit down to enjoy some honey roasted walnut prawns. Score: 87

Dry Creek Valley, 1998 Reserve Chardonnay, (707) 433-1000 Healdsburg, CA Rich juicy fruit of papaya and mango coated slightly in butterscotch drip from the nose of this outstanding vintage. Where some Chardonnay's can be tart, this is ripe and fresh with all the character of warm tropical sunshine. The finish is long and memorable and melds elegantly with roasted seabass with citrus hinted beurre blanc or a fresh tropical-fruit-salsa.

Eberle Winery 2007 Estate Chardonnay / Paso Robles A beautiful golden hue greets the eye, as the dense fruit flavors make for an aroma worthy of lingering. A tart first sip greets the palate and quickly unfolds into a flow of pear, apples, pineapple and green apple, rounded out by a touch of vanilla and caramel. Very well balanced, offering the perfect accompaniment to barbecued chicken, raw oysters, spicy food and pasta alfredo with freshly steamed clams.

Echelon 1998 Chardonnay Central Coast P.O. Box 518, Soledad, CA 93960  This wine is fresh and full, complex and very drinkable, very soft and intriguing. Echelon showcases Chardonnay's versatility. Slow fermentation, oak aging and malolactic fermentation. Give this a forward nose and quaffable taste. Released Dec '99. This wine pairs effortlessly with most foods. Chill and serve. 100% Chardonnay. Retail: 14.50

Estancia 2007 Chardonnay / Monterey County Sourced from their Pinnacles Vineyard on the east side of the Salinas Valley and the Santa Lucia Highlands, this 2007 Chardonnay is a nice, full-bodied wine with a pleasing hint of acidity. From its soft golden hue, rich aromas of tropical fruit, apple, oak, and vanilla open up. On the palate, crisp apple and lush tropical fruit return, with hints of creamy oak and minerals lingering at the finish. Pair with an heirloom tomato and chicken pasta.

Fleming Jenkins 2007 Chardonnay / Santa Cruz Mountains The fruit for this wine was grown on a sloping one-acre vineyard in the foothills, 1,400 feet above the city of Los Gatos where temperatures range from the mid-fifties to nearly one-hundred degrees. The resulting wine is crisp, yet rich, as fresh peach, apple, and creamy oak highlight the bouquet. A sip, and vanilla, tropical fruit, ripe melon, as well as notes of oak, drift over the palate. Enjoy this wine on its own or pair it alongside your favorite cut of fish in a creamy lemon and herb sauce. Score: 89

Four Vines 2007 "Naked" Chardonnay, Santa Barbara A bright fruit forward bouquet greets the nose. Tart apples balance with ripe peaches and pears, unfolding into a citrus finish with earthy minerals. An honest expression of chardonnay with no oak, and no malolactic fermentation. Keep a few bottles cooled and ready to pull out. You can use this as your every day wine for all occasions.

Hallcrest Vineyards 2005 Barrell Select Chardonnay / Santa Cruz Mountains Here we have another fine offering from the Santa Cruz Mountains. The nose is rich with creamy, spiced oak, tropical fruit, apple, and just a tinge of smokiness. With a nice acidity and a smooth, fresh mouthfeel, it is easy to savor the mixture of apple, pear, and butterscotch flavors that flow into a toasty oak finish. Pair this Chardonnay with anything from a fresh salad to poultry to a creamy seafood dish. Score: 88

La Rochelle 2006 San Vicente Vineyard Chardonnay / Monterey The San Vicente Vineyard was first planted back in the 60's, and quality fruit has been coming from there ever since.  With this latest harvest, winemakers Tom Stutz and Steven Mirassou have produced a fine wine, with an excellent depth of flavors that unfold from its golden hue.  The ripe essence of peach and pineapple are balanced by softer nuances of vanilla, caramel, and toasted oak.  A nice lively acidity and a crisp tropical finish make this wine quite drinkable and a lovely compliment to an outdoor dinner on a soft, sunny evening.  You may even want a second bottle, just in case.

Manzoni 2006 Santa Lucia Chardonnay / Santa Lucia Highlands Foggy mornings, moderate afternoons, and cool evenings are trademarks of the Lucia Highlands. After a late October harvest, French Oak and stainless steal were used for fermentation. The resulting wine has a soft golden hue that releases deep aromas of tropical fruit, with caramel and yeasty notes lingering around the edges. When sipped slowly, pineapple, pear, and a touch of honey drift over the palate, finishing with a hint of oak. Medium-bodied, with a nice acidity, this wine rates well in terms of drinkability. Try it with sole baked in a creamy butter sauce.

Meridian Vineyards, 1999 Santa Barbara Chardonnay, (805) 237-6000 Paso Robles, CA A well-crafted wine with distinct classic aromas and flavors. Aromatic ripe fresh pear and apple with juicy-pineapple touched with rich sweet-vanilla flavors, followed by a long toasted oak finish. Pair this wine alongside creamy pastas and grilled halibut with caramelized fennel.

Midnight Cellars 2006 Chardonnay Estate Reserve / Paso Robles A beautiful, light golden color with a full nose of fresh, tart apple with scents of floral sets the stage for this luscious chardonnay. A rich mouth feel of green apple, pear and mango are balanced with an almost honey like blanket of ginger. The refreshing finish is long and satisfying, highlighting a well balanced oak which doesnít overpower the grape. Only 175 cases made. A special feel to the palate, youíll want to capture one of these chardonnays for your collection.

Pessagno Winery 2006 Intrinity Chardonnay / Santa Lucia Highlands Produced from fruit grown throughout the Santa Lucia Highlands, the Intrinity Chardonnay represents winemaker Steve Pessagno's finest effort for the varietal, the name signifying the endless pursuit of lofty goals. When held up to sunlight, the wine glows with a soft golden hue. A sip brings ripe flavors of crisp pear and tart apple, which flow into deeper notes of caramel and smoke. A rich wine, with nice depth, it would pair nicely with a fresh pesto and chicken pasta salad. Only 396 cases were produced.

Silver Mountain Vineyards 2006 Estate Chardonnay / Santa Cruz Mountains Produced from the Mount Eden clone, known for its small, concentrated berries, this 100% Chardonnay was aged for 11 months in oak. Swirling a glass lets loose sweet fragrances of orange blossoms, notes of creamy vanilla, and hints of toasty oak. The palate is packed with bright citrus fruit including lemon and ripe orange that finishes with a pleasant touch of acidity. Open a bottle now and pair it with grilled chicken season in rosemary and garlic, or give it a few years in the cellar, and see what awaits. Score: 87

Steven Kent 2006 Merrillie Chardonnay, Unfiltered / Livermore Valley This wine comes from the gravelly soils and rolling hills of the Livermore Valley.  Made with fruit harvested out of the Ernest Wente and Wisner Vineyard and named for Steven Kent Mirassou's great-grandmother, we are offered a pure Chardonnay, without filtration.  Aging in American, French, and Hungarian barrels brought out rich notes of caramel, vanilla, and oak to balance the vibrant fruit flavors of pineapple, melon, peach, and green apple.  With such depth, it is a wine to savor straight through to the smooth, light, oaky finish.  Paired with sole in a butter and lemon sauce or pasta alfredo, it's sure to please.

Wente Vineyards 2007 Riva Ranch Chardonnay / Arroyo Seco Made predominantly from grapes grown on prime land in the Arroyo Seco region where the cool growing season and gravelly soil are ideal conditions for ripening Chardonnay, this wine is another fine effort from fifth generation winemaker Karl Wente.  Eight months in American oak brought out rich vanilla and oak character to balance the ripe bouquet of fruit, including apple, pear, and peach that rise out of a translucent golden hue .  More subtle flavors of tropical fruit and caramel round out the palate, which comes to a close with lingering hints of oak.  Pair this very nice, medium-bodied, wine alongside pasta topped with your favorite cream sauce or salmon with a fresh pesto marinade.