4 | Wine | Chardonnay, Sonoma County

"Brilliant clear straw in color, this glimmering Chardonnay displays tropical aromas of guava, pineapple, bright nectarine, peach, green apple, and citrus delicately spiced with toasty oak. Supremely balanced and well-defined, this refreshing wine’s nectarine, peach, and lemon flavors are lifted by notes of orange blossoms and a hint of smoke—adding a toasted warm oak character that reveals itself as sweet vanilla, hazelnut, nutmeg, and smoky bacon—before transcending to a delicate, zesty tangerine finish. Enjoy with homemade tagliatelle with spot prawns and lemon thyme butter sauce, seared scallops with goat cheese and summer truffle ravioli, or baked chicken thigh with saffron garlic sauce."

"A touch of brown spice and vanilla, while cold fermenting the remainder to maximize a fresh fruit-forward character. Bright lemon and apple aromas mingle with hints of toasty barrel complexity, and on the palate, pear and pineapple with spice and refreshing acidity will have you coming back for another glass. Enjoy this lively chardonnay now and over the next couple of years."

"Creamy and crisp, with abundant fruit character, mineral and toasty oak flavors."

"This vintage opens with bright aromas of Meyer lemon and yellow apple, punctuated by hints of butterscotch and subtle floral notes. The palate adds flavors of juicy yellow plum, lemon curd and vanilla custard. Rich tropical tones and a lingering spice add richness and texture to the long, fresh finish."

"Bright yellow. Pungent aromas of grapefruit, lemon zest, saffron and mint, with an underpinning of smoky minerals. Dusty citrus and apple flavors are complemented by a sexy floral quality and enlivened by zesty minerality. Finishes with excellent clarity and stony thrust, the floral note repeating. This taut, dry, deeply concentrated chardonnay should age gracefully."

"Vivid yellow. Lively, spice-accented aromas of tangerine, melon and white flowers, with toasty lees and sweet butter accents adding depth. Offers an array of citrus fruit and spice flavors, with suave honeysuckle and brioche nuances emerging with air. Lingers impressively on the finish, which shows nervy orange pith and ginger character."

"With its elegant, highly nuanced character, our 2011 Carneros Chardonnay reflects the delicate, complex wines that rewarded our efforts in the challengingly cool vintage. This Chardonnay speaks to the terroir of our estate vineyards in the Los Carneros region, with its fragrant citrus blossom, Meyer lemon zest, White Lady peach, Jonathan apple, and honeycomb aromas. The richly textured flavors offer a harmony of spiced baked apple, ripe D’Anjou pear, golden fig and Shiro yellow plum. On the palate, refreshing acidity carries the complex fruit expression through the long, crème brûlée and hazelnut finish. Bronzed swordfish with arugula salad, pumpkin soup with lime cream, roast turkey, and grilled chicken are a few delicious pairing suggestions."

"On the nose, the wine has notes of brioche, preserved lemon, vanilla, and white peach. This unfiltered medium weight Chardonnay features flavors of citrus, sweet oat straw, grilled nectarine, and white chocolate followed by nutmeg spice and a hint of oak toast."