Separate lots of Sonoma fruit with some Santa Barbara, and aged in French oak. Layers of tropical fruit, pear, apple and citrus aromas complemented by well-integrated vanilla, spice, clove and smoke notes. We like the wood restraint and its bright spicy apple, toasty lees, honey and citrus butter flavours. Better than a simple California appellation indicates.

"It displays some tropical fruit, but is more dominated by a flinty, lime, and citrus character. Rich, with medium to full body, this classy, concentrated Chardonnay should drink well for 1-2 years.

Engaging nose of spices, toasted almonds, apples and honey. Slightly exotic, with par, melon and butterscotch flavors, and a chalky-mineral note. The ripe, almost candied fruit works against the relatively high acidity. Lengthy finish. Displays character and finesse.

A superlative effort from K-J in what is shaping up to be a rather tough vintage for premium California Chardonnay. Sporting a floral and honeyed nose, this wine speaks volumes about the power of fruit over oak, and about multiple sources of quality fruit. While there are some sweet vanilla and wood nuances courtesy of nine months of aging in small barrels, the high point of the wine is its vibrant pear and apple flavors. Layered and rich, this wine is extremely clean. It also has the perfect level of acidity to handle foods with aromatic spices. I enjoyed it with lightly cured prawns and couscous with apples and raisins. It was just right for that aromatic and flavorful dish. While there may "only" be a California appellation on this wine, which in many cases denotes that the grapes were harvested from inferior vineyards, in this case it simply means that K-J has sourced excellent fruit from its top vineyards throughout the state.

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.