3 | Wine | White, $10 to $20, 2010

"This beautiful, hand-harvested effort reveals clean notes of poached pears, honeyed citrus and tropical fruit. Medium-bodied with loads of fruit as well as purity, a beautiful texture, and a subtle note of wood, it will provide plenty of pleasure if consumed over the next year."

"Peaches, tropical fruits, honey, and botrytis aromas. ...lead to a viscous, vibrant wine with superb natural acidity that frames the fruit brilliantly. This wine is all about pleasure; how long it will last is difficult to say but there is no rational reason to defer your gratification. By the way, it is also an outstanding value in sweet dessert wine."

"The 2010 Gustave Lorentz Pinot Gris Reserve is gold-yellow in color, with a charming and complex nose of dried white fruits and nuts, with a touch of smokiness. The same expressive characteristics are found on the palate which is generous, fruitforward and full-bodied with balanced acidity."

"Fragrant aromas of jasmine, honey, and tropical fruits inform the nose of this nicely proportioned, intense, savory, dry white. It is an outstanding value."

"The 2010 Chardonnay Grand Reserve emerges from the glass with lemon, minerals, white flowers and subtle French oak. The Grand Reserve impresses for its length and textural elegance, both of which are remarkable for a wine made on this scale. Estate owned vineyards in Santa Barbara and Monterey are the sources for the fruit."

"Full yellow-gold color. Aromas of peach, apricot, tangerine, honey and brown spices show an exotic character suggesting a bit of botrytis. Juicy and concentrated but a bit aggressively oaky on the palate, showing ripe stone fruit flavors and a slight umami saline character. Finishes with a bit of alcoholic burn."

"Lemon and lime on the nose, with a hint of herbs. Light-bodied, racy citrus flavors are appealingly clean and brisk but could use a bit more heft. Easygoing and refreshing, with good finishing cut."

"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."

"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."

"Remarkable freshness and vibrant purity of fruit - tropical, lively citrus, fresh pear and honeydew melon - lifted by bouyant natural acidity. Well-integrated oak supports the assemblage of fruity flavors from the vineyard with hints of roasted hazelnut, creme brulee and smoke followed by a long, creamy finish."