Soft, sumptuous and velvety with lovely fruit and complex, round flavors.

The 2012 White Meritage Grand Reserve (60% Semillon and 40% Sauvignon Blanc) also comes from estate vineyards in Mendocino and Lake County. Nearly 60% of this wine was barrel-fermented, but no new oak was employed. Lovely notes of white peach, apricot, candle wax, honeysuckle and citrus oil, but not a hint of oak are found in this luscious white. It would be perfect with grilled salmon.

Offers a floral bouquet, with rich, spicy apple, pear, fig and melon flavors, turning elegant and refined, finishing with touches of hazelnut and toasty oak.

Bright pear, peach, pineapple, ginger snap and floral notes grace a fresh, fragrant nose. The palate's exotic tropical fruit, ginger and lychee nut flavors mingle beautifully in a medium-full, though perhaps slightly sweet, package. Elegant and appealingly fresh.

A beautiful orchestration of rip fruit and oak, with touches of cream, toasty oak wrapped around layers of lemon- and nectarine-scented pear and apple. Long, lingering aftertaste.

The Great Estates offerings are impressive...A sensational effort, the 1999 Great Estates Chardonnay Sonoma Coast...This singular Chardonnay exhibits a big, smoky, leesy perfume of orange marmalade, honeysuckle, lemon rind, and ripe pineapples. Dense, rich, and full-bodied, this terrific white...All of these Chardonnays are excellent values considering their high quality.

Remarkably complex, with rich tropical fruit flavors framed by pretty toast, vanilla and smoky oak notes. The core flavors of peach, fig and nectarine are bright and complex, gaining nuance on the finish.

Brimming with complex flavors, this wine comes from one of the best vineyards in Central Coast region of California.

"Elegant and flavorful, ripe and creamy, with juicy pear, apple, melon and fig notes that fan out on the finish where a nice touch of spicy oak adds dimension." (Also appeared 5/15/97).

"Ripe, rich and complex, with tiers of spice, toast, honey and nectarine accented by hints of peach and pineapple. An up-front and openly fruity style that is appealing now." (Also appeared 2/28/97).

Lush and creamy, long and dense.

Lemon drops, butterscotch, earth, spice. Zippy acids keep fruit lively. Slightly creamy thanks to an abundance of integrated oak. Richly textured and well made.

Exploring The Best New Releases from Sonoma and Beyond The 2017 Chardonnay (Santa Maria Valley) is one of the more expressive wines in this range. All of the nuance and pedigree of Santa Maria comes through in an open-knit, beautifully layered Chardonnay. Lemon peel, apricot, almond and dried flowers are all woven together in a wine of finesse.

The 2017s From Sonoma Lots of stone fruits, orange blossom, white flowers, and some exotic notes emerge from the 2017 Chardonnay Jackson Estate Fulton Ranch, which comes from the old Château de Beaune vineyard in the Russian River Valley. It’s medium-bodied, with good purity and outstanding length. It’s rock solid. This cuvée was aged 9 months in 29% new French oak.

Exploring The Best New Releases from Sonoma and Beyond The 2017 Chardonnay Camelot Highlands offers a bit more density and structure than the Santa Maria Chardonnay, and yet retains a good bit of freshness as well. Apricot, chamomile, vanilla, hazelnut, dried flowers and tangerine all develop in a juicy, layered and laid-back Chardonnay. The Camelot has a remarkable sense of textural depth that builds as the wine sits in the glass.

The 2016 Chardonnay Jackson Estate Santa Maria Valley opens with compelling apricot, pink grapefruit and guava notes with hints of ginger, lemon peel and brioche. Medium-bodied, the palate features juicy tropical and stone fruit flavors with just enough toastiness, finishing with a zesty lift.

The 2016 Chardonnay Grand Reserve is sourced entirely from estate vineyards in Santa Barbara and Monterey. Pliant and supple, with terrific depth, the Grand Reserve is another wine that punches above its weight. Apricot, orange peel, mint, chamomile and lightly honeyed notes all add nuance.

USA, California, Northern California: Napa & Some Sonoma New Releases Aged 11 months in 78% new French oak, the 2016 Jackson Estate Arroyo Seco Chardonnay delivers musk melons, guava and lychee scents with a floral undercurrent and loads of allspice and honey sparks. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with tropical and spicy fruit with loads of freshness and a long, pleasantly oily finish.

There’s a reason this wine has been America’s best-selling Chardonnay for the past 25 years. Like you perhaps, I am not a fan of big, sweet, creamy, oaky Chardonnays, but Vintner’s Reserve wows me every time. For one thing, the fruit (pineapple, mango, and other tropical flavors) just tastes so perfectly ripe and refreshing. For another, while the oak definitely presents itself towards the front of the palate, it adds weight and rich spiciness to the blend rather than an intrusive barrel flavor. And then there’s the texture… velvety and sumptuous but never heavy. This is a great aperitif wine, and I can’t think of a better wine to serve with lobster, or a rich, creamy pasta dish.

Lushly ripe pear and butter flavors are backed by vibrant, lemony acidity in this wine. It has good depth, medium body and a creamy texture, but stays balanced and fresh on the palate, leading to a lingering finish. Another outstanding vintage for a classic California wine.

Even at the list price of $35, the 2016 Chardonnay Jackson Estate Fulton Ranch is a good value. Citrus, lemon curd and white flower notes all flow to a medium-bodied, elegant Chardonnay that has a terrific sense of elegance and purity. Aged 9 months in just 12% new French oak, it’s a class act well worth checking out.

I also loved the 2016 Chardonnay Jackson Estate Cloud Landing, which comes from a site in the Sonoma Coast/Petaluma Gap region of Sonoma. It’s incredibly aromatic and offers flamboyantly styled notes of orange blossom, citrus oil, tangerine and honeysuckle. Drink this medium to full-bodied, vibrant, yet rich and unctuous effort over the coming 2-3 years.

Kendall-Jackson's 2016 Chardonnay Camelot Highlands is bright and nicely lifted. Candied lemon peel, white flowers, mint and chalk give the Camelot its distinctive top notes. Medium in body and super-refined, the 2016 is a wonderfully inviting wine to drink now and over the next handful of years.

Top 100 Wines of 2017 - #28 The Vintner's Reserve has been a perennial best-seller in California Chardonnay for 30 years. It's hard to argue with the wallet-friendly price, wide availability and drinkable style. Grapes from Monterey anchor the blend, with additional fruit sourced from Santa Barbara, Mendocino and Sonoma counties. The wine ages five months in predominantly used French and American oak barrels, which keeps the flavors zesty and the oak notes subtle. The lees are stirred monthly, which contributes to the creamy texture and pastry flavors while the wine retains a sense of freshness.

Plush, with loads of richness to the well-honed flavors of beeswax, baked pear and lemon tart.