K-J's Grand Reserve is well worth the upcharge from the Vintner's Reserve. This seductive and delicious wine is practically irresistible for its combination of abundant ripe-fruit and baking-spice flavors. It offers an indulgent, luxurious texture of melted tannins and mellow acidity.

Very rich right from the first with a multi-layered nose of toast, roasted nuts and suggestions of sweet lemon curd all underlain by a substantial foundation of concentrated, optimally ripened, apple-like fruit, the latest Matanzas Creek Journey is an ambitious, very expressive effort whose ample, very deep flavors deliver all of the richness and range that its involving aromas promise. It is a sizeable, decidedly mouthfilling wine, to be sure, yet it is never in the least bit ponderous, and, while it has the structural solidity and fruity reserve to guarantee several years of positive growth, it is a far-reaching working that will make memorable drinking in the near term with flavorful dishes that beg for Chardonnays of unhesitant richness. 2 stars.

Wonderful Christmas-spice aromas lead to concentrated opulent fruit flavors in this full-bodied, complex and nicely oaky wine that's blended mostly from Syrah and Zinfandel. It's easy to pick out clove, cinnamon and cedar aromas before black currant and black cherry fill the palate.

Focused and vibrantly fruity, with notes of wet stone to the peach, white berry and green apple flavors. The spicy finish offers dried savory and honeyed accents.

Lovely oak may jump to the fore on first nosing here, but it is soon joined by plenty of well-focused, ripe apple fruit, and the layering implied by this generous, full-bodied offering’s ever deepening aromas is convincingly confirmed by its concentrated, multi-dimensional flavors. Subtlety is not one of the wine’s strengths, but unabashed richness most certainly is, and, while it is just a tad hot in its closing moments, its lastminute heat is sure to be made moot by the richer foods for which it so clearly asks. 1 star.

Ripe fruit flavors and a generous helping of oak spices make this full-bodied wine flavorful and easy to sip. It brings cinnamon and red cherry to the nose, and black cherry, cranberry and baking spices to the palate.

This straw-colored Chardonnay from Hartford Court is very good. It opens with a rich butterscotch and pear bouquet with hints of lime. On the palate, this wine is full bodied and lush. The flavor profile is a rich butterscotch and lemon blend with notes of honey and lime. The finish lingers and lasts for quite a while. The Panel suggested pairing this Chard with lobster mac n’ cheese or lobster bisque with sherry.

A little scaled back in volume and scope when compared to its two bigger, more-lavish mates from Stonestreet, this amiable, nicely focused Chardonnay keys on fresh apples with a light overlay of oak and hints of sweet lemons surfacing here and there. It may not be as big and bold as its partners, but it is by no means a small and stingy wine, and its balanced combination of integral acidity and tempered richness commends near-term mealtime use with dishes ranging from lightly sauced salmon to classic roast chicken.

This is a straight-up, well-structured and moderately tannic wine with medium to full body, firm acidity and an almost tangy texture. It dusts black-cherry and cranberry flavors with hints of spicy oak and dark chocolate that continue to develop on the palate and finish.

Wood smoke and cooked berry aromas yield to bold charred blackberry flavors encased in nicely grippy tannins and lifted by acidity. The wine is medium to full bodied, and quite bold in style.

Sweet and spicy with a hard-to-ignore infusion of caramel, toast and cream standing out at every stop, there is no getting around the fact that this one owes much to pushy oak even if its moderately deep fruit manages to hold its own. Richness rather than sophistication is the story here, and, although the wine does get a touch tangy and hot in the late going, its ongoing richness easily prevails. GOOD VALUE.

Here is an uncomplicated, unoaked look at Chardonnay that is stripped down to the basics, yet it is clean, carefully balanced and insistently fruity with the variety’s distinctly appley traits in play every step of the way. It flirts with a touch of sweetness to start but stays clear of candied confection and will very capably do the job of an affable quaffer as the weather warms in the months just ahead.

Starting out with a full flush of appley fruit on the nose and staying on track through to its finish, this unexpectedly fleshy and surprisingly well-balanced Chardonnay is not particularly complex, but it stays clear of the candied confection typical in wines of its price and is persuasively fruity every step of the way. Its varietal honesty earns it an enthusiastic vote for fine value, GOOD VALUE.

This blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and malbec is medium-bodied and simple but ripe in dark fruit with notes of blueberry, blackberry and vanilla.

I won’t assert that the Diatom Bar-M Chardonnay 2018, Los Alamos Valley, is the best chardonnay I’ve tasted this year, but even framing the issue in that parameter implies that it’s a pretty damned good chardonnay. Made by Greg Brewer, of Brewer-Clifton — acquired by Jackson Family Wines in 2017 — this Diatom ’18 was fashioned in small stainless steel tanks; malolactic was inhibited. The result is a chardonnay of stunning purity and intensity. The color is pale straw-gold; immediately attractive aromas of pineapple and grapefruit, green apple and cloves are enveloped in a haze of talc, honeysuckle and damp flint. On the palate, this chardonnay — delicate as a seashell but displaying plenty of energy — hovers in exquisite poise between an almost powdery texture and bright, vivid acidity, so the effect is spare, dry and elegant, yet with a back-note of ripe, cushiony stone-fruit flavors; a tide of limestone sweeps in from mid-palate back through a chiseled and well-defined finish. 14.5 percent alcohol. Los Alamos Valley lies between Santa Maria Valley and Santa Ynez Valley in Santa Barbara County; it is cooler than Santa Ynez and warmer than Santa Maria. Now through 2021 or ’22. Excellent.

All the Rosés We'll Be Quenching Our Thirst With This Summer Made entirely from Anderson Valley Pinot Noir, Copain's rosé expertly merges complexity and aromatics. You'll detect watermelon rind, citrus blossoms and stone fruits, with a long, lingering finish that encourages opening another bottle.

This is an impressive bottling, refreshingly dry. Tasty citrus, watermelon, mineral and a hint of nectarine. Finishes crisp. Well crafted. 4 stars.

12 Wines for Spring From Mendocino County, this Syrah really reflects that cooler climate in which the grapes grew. I loved this wine. It had blueberry fruit, blackberries, boysenberries, and a hint of white pepper. Silky and smooth with medium tannins and very nice acidity, it was perfect for a reverse seared ribeye! Elegant, with a mild gaminess, I wouldn’t recommend it with anything rich or heavily sauced, or it will take away from the freshness of the wine. As the name, “all together”, suggests, Copain’s Tous Ensemble series offers a perfect complement to any gathering, from a casual meal to an impromptu party. Sounds like a good excuse to invite some friends over for a party this weekend!!

National Wine Day!

Options abound with Mother's Day Chardonnay South Africa's Capensis revealing wet stone minerality and a hint of salinity with ripe Asian pear.

National Wine Day!

Santa Barbara Chardonnay And Pinot Noir Are Made By The Ocean 2016 Cambria Vineyards & Winery Julia’s Vineyard Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley: dark fruit, white tea, savory, cardamom, lean and focused.

Santa Barbara Chardonnay And Pinot Noir Are Made By The Ocean 2016 Cambria Vineyards and Winery Katherine’s Vineyard Chardonnay Santa Maria Valley: orchard fruit, graham cracker, focused acidity.

Santa Barbara Chardonnay And Pinot Noir Are Made By The Ocean 2016 Byron Nielson Vineyard Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley: Chinese 5 spice, tea, graphite, brooding.

This Chardonnay hails from the famous Bien Nacido Vineyard in Santa Maria, California and is not your typical Wednesday wine. Aromatic, complex and deftly balanced, the Byron Bien Nacido Chardonnay is a bottle to open when you want to treat yourself to something truly special.