More vinous aromas of dried tropical fruits, honey and nuts. Quite dense and tactile; sweeter than the Paradise Vineyard bottling but also livelier in the mouth, with enough harmonious acidity to frame the thick, tropical fruit. Big, rich and impressive, but distinctly sweet.

.copious quantities of tropical fruit intermixed with butter, honey, and toasty oak. In the mouth, this spicy wine reveals excellent balance, honeyed citrus and fruit cocktail-like flavors, and a lush, rich, fleshy, personality.

For example, the 1995 chardonnay (900 cases) was made with 100% native yeast fermentation, put through full malolactic fermentation, completely barrel fermented, and aged in 75% new oak for nearly 18 months, and bottled without filtration. There was considerable stirring of the lees to encourage greater complexity and richness. It is an impressive, young, burgundian-styled chardonnay with a smoky, hazelnut, buttery popcorn, honeyed pineapple-scented nose and flavors, full body, great purity and ripeness, and a long, lusty finish. It could easily stand up to just about any Batard-Montrachet made in France, although I doubt it will be long-lived. Drink it over the next 2-3 years.

Intense yet with a sense of elegance and finesse with ripe pear, melon, nutmeg and apple flavors. Finishes with a light touch of oak and a fruity aftertaste.

I have long been an enthusiastic fan of Kendall-Jackson's Grand Reserve Chardonnay and the 1994 is an outstanding wine. This 100% barrel-fermented Chardonnay is made in surprisingly large quantities (about 45,000-50,000 cases), but there is no doubting its lavish display of tropical fruit, butter, and spicy, toasty barrel aromas. This delicious wine is authoritatively rich and full-bodied, with low acidity. While it will not make old bones, it will drink well for 1-2 years.

Exhibits an intense, honeyed, tropical fruit-scented nose. Rich, expansive, and chewy with loads of fruit, terrific purity, and a long finish, this knock-out Chardonnay should drink well for 12-16 months.

Smooth, ripe and creamy, striking a nice balance between its rich pear, fig, melon and spice character and the toasty, buttery oak. Finishes with a creamy flavor and texture. Keeps up the track record for this leading California winery.

A terrific, exotic, tropical fruit-scented and flavored, full-bodied Chardonnay that is bursting with extract and fruit. A flamboyant, delicious wine, it offers copious quantities of pleasure-giving fruit, glycerin, and alcohol. The intense honeyed pineapple scents, tinged with toasted new oak notes, will please anybody who 'drinks' wine.

Effusively fruity, with pretty pear, spice pineapple and creamy vanilla flavors that fold together nicely in a seamless, elegant package.

Lavishly rich, honeyed, buttery, in-your-face. The wine is extremely full-bodied and concentrated, ideal for drinking over the next year. A sumptuous, decadently-styled Chardonnay for hedonists!

Wonderfully delicious Santa Maria Chardonnay. Broad, ripe, smooth, rich and creamy with pretty pear, spice and hazelnut flavors that are elegant and lively, showing toasty oak notes on the finish. Bracing acidity keeps the fruit fresh and lively.

Cinnamon and butterscotch nuances define a fragrant bouquet. In the mouth it is medium-bodied with moderate acidity and a lush character throughout the tropical fruit finish.

Earthy yeast and mushroom scents play out on a rich and full-bodied mouthfeel. Good depth and exceptional balance make this complex and interesting.

Luscious, opulent, honeyed, buttery, apple-scented and flavored wine. Gently infused with some quality oak. Full-bodied, even voluptuous, it is a super chardonnay for drinking over the next year.

A knock-out bouquet of tropical fruits (oranges and pineapples) and spicy new oak. This is a full-bodied, decadent style of Chardonnay for drinking over the next year.

Buttery with apples, pears, and brown spices providing a pleasant aroma range. Clean, full-flavored entry. Lots of vanilla and pear on the palate, leading to a warm finish. Good structure, with a lasting, rich impression of oak.

Exploring The Best New Releases from Sonoma and Beyond The 2017 Chardonnay Grand Reserve is a gorgeous barrel-fermented Chardonnay that offers a striking interplay of richness and the more saline notes that are typical of Santa Barbara, where 75% of this fruit is sourced. Apricot, honey, dried flowers, mint and butter notes lead into the creamy finish. The Grand Reserve is very nicely done.

This wine interlaces a light buttery-oak nuance with vibrant, appealing fruit flavors. It's medium weight yet fresh, with a smooth, well-balanced palate that displays a harmonized mix of savory oak and citrus nuances.

Offers mouthfilling richness, with subtle floral notes to the custard, apple pastry and lemon curd flavors. Beeswax hints show on the spicy finish.

The 2016 Chardonnay (Santa Maria Valley) is plush, succulent and super-expressive. Apricot, tropical fruit, orange peel, mint, honey and buttery notes complement the wine's lush, generous feel quite nicely. Drink this forward, inviting Chardonnay over the next few years.

Rich and well-crafted, with some lavender accents to the melon, white cherry and pear flavors that feature a creamy texture. The spicy finish is smooth and silky.

This yellow colored Chardonnay opens with a faint lemon and pineapple bouquet with a hint of teaberry. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, balanced and smooth. The flavor profile is a tasty pear and pineapple blend with hints of mild oak and pecan. The finish is dry and its flavors drift away nicely. This Chard is food friendly and would pair nicely with a mild dish. I would pair it with Imperial stuffed halibut with bay scallops or Oregon pink shrimp Dungeness crab.

Wines of the Week: Creamy Chardonnay Tropical fruit and white cherry aromas play nicely with toasty, buttery expressions on the nose. Flavors of pineapple, apricot, and lemon wrap around nuances of butter, vanilla, and spring flowers on the palate. A balanced acidity and solid layers for under $20 make this Chardonnay well worth a try.

Coming from the Arroyo Seco (the Clark Vineyard) appellation and aged 11 months in 78% new French oak, the 2016 Chardonnay Jackson Estate Seco Highlands sports a vivid gold color to go with an exotic bouquet of honeyed orange rind, flowers, Meyer lemons, and citrus oil. Incredibly exotic and perfumed, with an almost Muscat character, drink this medium-bodied, nicely balanced Chardonnay over the coming couple of years.

Cali Chard Always a standout Chard from multiple vineyards located up and down the coast of California. This has a voluptuous nose of layered and expressive apple, pear, vanilla, buttered toast and creamy barrel spices. It’s a lush and spicy Chard on the palate with a range of ripe orchard fruits, mango, pineapple and just enough acidity to keep it lively on the finish. Big, rich, Cali Chard.