3 | Wine | White, Napa Valley, $10 to $20

"Inviting aromas of citrus, Golden Delicious apple, vanilla, and subtle spice from the toasted oak draw you in. Delicate mineral and lemon-lime are hidden behind star jasmine and honeysuckle notes."

"A lush, full melon/citrus character in the aroma and in the flavor. The cooler Napa Valley fruit provides a solid, crisp backbone that gives the wine an exciting liveliness that balances the rich creaminess from "sur lie" aging."

"Aromatics are the order of the day for our Napa chardonnay, which speaks loudly of our cool climate, marine-influenced vineyard. Oaks take a lesser role in recent vintages, and we celebrate the fresh, crisp style that complements many foods by allowing less than a quarter of the wine to undergo malolactic fermentation. Bright fruits boasting of pear and green apple are accented with a bit of citrus zest and honeybell, balanced with a creamy brioche and touch of vanilla. We age the wine in mostly neutral French oak to enhance mouthfeel. This is the new face of California chardonnay, a wine to enjoy as an apéritif or as a worthy complement to wonderful presentations of your favorite dishes."

"Ripe tree fruit and heady notes of baked apple are supported by layers of caramel, brown spice and toasted oak flavors."

"Intensely fruity and floral, yet light as air on the palate, the sweetness of the Moscato d’Oro is impeccably balanced by crisp, mouthwatering acidity. This elegant expression of orange blossom, white peach, fresh apricot and rose petal is interwoven with an unmistakable touch of honey. The clean, citrusy finish is enlivened by a soft, subtle tingle of effervescence."

"The nearly picture perfect growing season of 2012 has imprinted its own character on the 2012 Sauvignon Blanc. Make no mistake, the slate and minerality typical of Frog’s Leap Sauvignon Blanc is all there in spades and anchors the wine in its Rutherford roots. It’s just that there is something more. A hint of white peach or perhaps a bit of lychee that only is there in the best years. The result is a bit of expansion in the culinary possibilities."

"Rich, golden character with ripe fruit and pleasant oak nuances. Aromas of poached pears are encircled by toasty-sweet toffee and caramel notes. Barrel fermentation and sur lie aging lend a rich creaminess to the mouthfeel, adding layers of crème brûlée, caramel and baking spices to the juicy baked apples and pear. Lemon meringue leaves a bright impression on the long finish. Pair this well-balanced Chardonnay with scallops or other rich seafood."

"This wine presents with attractive pale yellow hues speared by notes of youthful greens. Crisp, bright grapefruit and lime dominate the aromatics and are complemented with a hint of caper and lemon zest. Flavors of fresh lime and grapefruit persist with elements of kiwi, citrus and caper. This is a rich, generous and vibrant white wine with a brilliant, crisp finish."

"Straw yellow. Pungent aromas of pineapple, grapefruit and lime zest. Intense and savory, with excellent thrust to the citrus zest and floral flavors. Mondavi picks this fruit early (80% of it is from owned vineyards), using dry ice and SO2 to protect it from air at the pressing. Youthfully tight and very fresh. Yes, the sauvignon blancs were presented after the reserve chardonnay at my March tasting at Mondavi."