One of the finest values in Chardonnay in the market is the 2006 Grand Reserve Chardonnay, which is aged 8 months in a combination of French and American oak, and put through malolactic fermentation. It is a cross-appellation blend of 55% from Monterey and 45% from Santa Barbara. Gorgeous tropical fruits, pineapple in particular, as well as honeysuckle and some floral notes jump from the glass of this pure, rich wine that exhibits subtle oak but is dominated by its fruit. It's a beauty that should drink nicely for several years.

Here's a floral, minerally wine, with wildflower, orange spice and honey aromas almost like a Viognier. In the mouth, it erupts in fruit so sweet, it's almost like a dessert wine, with pineapple custard and lemon cream flavors. A little off-beat for a Chard, but very good.

The 2005 Chardonnay Grand Reserve (primarily from Santa Barbara and Monterey fruit) spent 8 months in a combination of American and French oak, with 100% barrel fermentation. Crisp and elegant, with notes of orange marmalade and oil, a brilliant texture, outstanding purity, and a heady finish, it is bigger than the Vintner's Reserve, but remains a fine bargain. It should drink well for 2-3 years.

A huge, complex wine that flatters the palate with enormously rich, layered flavors of lemon drop, vanilla custard and butterscotch flavors. Fortunately, there's a crisp Central Coast acidity.

Sees about 30% new French oak, enjoys 100% malolactic in barrel, and is aged sur-lies. This gorgeous Chardonnay displays vanilla cream, white peach, lemon butter, and popcorn-like characteristics. Medium to full-bodied, with good underlying acidity, an alluring texture, and tremendous purity, it is a fine value and, there are 77,542 cases!

Leesy and custardy, with melon and lime flavors accented by toast. Rich and weighty; finishes with caramel.

reveals honeyed tropical fruit, medium to full body, gorgeous freshness, and a lively, long finish. Drink this lovely white over the next 2-3 years.

The Great Estates offerings are impressive...the 2000 Great Estates Chardonnay Arroyo Seco. Its complex bouquet of lemon zest, hazelnuts, minerals, and ripe tropical fruits is followed by a rich, well-textured Chardonnay with beautifully integrated oak...it represents a complex style of Chardonnay. All of these Chardonnays are excellent values considering their high quality.

The Great Estates offerings are impressive...Nearly as superb, but less complex are the...2000 Great Estates Chardonnay Sonoma Coast. Aromas of honeyed tangerines, lemon zest, smoke and earth emerge from this full-bodied, pure, ripe, nicely-textured effort. All of these Chardonnays are excellent values considering their high quality.

Fresh tangerine and light citrus fruit casts a lively sheen across the palate, the contrast of oak and ocean giving a dry, saline finish. A light, clean chardonnay, great with oysters.

The Great Estates offerings are impressive...The 2000 Great Estates Chardonnay Santa Barbara...An example of California Chardonnay at its finest, it boasts loads of tropical fruits, medium to full body, and a flamboyant, spicy personality...All of these Chardonnays are excellent values considering their high quality.

A breezy, buttery offering, it boasts hazelnut and tropical fruit flavors, plenty of fat and lushness, and a smoky, Meursault-like character. Drink this sexy, opulent, full-flavored Chardonnay over the next several years.

Charming, with ripe berry and maraschino cherry flavors that are bright and appealing. Clove, cinnamon and dark chocolate highlights linger on a smooth frame.

Medium to deep red/purple bright colour; the bouquet spicy, fresh earth and subdued raspberry fruit. The wine is medium-bodied and savoury, with more savoury and matured flavours than fresh, bright, jubey fruit. It's soft but drying on the tongue. A good wine and quite a different style to the sibling Yangarra grenaches. (Made from 54-year-old grenache vines on the property, planted before the Hickinbothams owned it. 473 cases made) the longer the wine is aerated. A wonderful glass of red wine.

Plush plum, licorice and black tea notes show fresh accents of herbs, cedar and tobacco, adding a spicy flourish. Tannins firm up on the finish, lending a bold punctuation point to the flavors.

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2014 Trueman Cabernet Sauvignon has cassis and dried mint on the nose, with chocolate, violets, crème de cassis and blackberry tart flavors. Full-bodied an opulently fruited, this is nonetheless a and very fresh Cabernet, possessing nice grainy tannins and great length.

A rich red and blue fruited style with a sweet-smelling oak-infused nose, some distinct eucalypt notes at the edge too, fresh leafy elements, some fig fruit, bright and lively. The palate has a terrific core of velvety fruit, really supple, smooth and even, tannins just register above the flesh, great balance here, red plum and blueberry flavors with toasty oak spices to close.

Dark and supple with rich blackberry and plum fruit; tangy, crisp and juicy with spice and depth; tangy, long and stylish.

Boldly youthful in color, revealing a whiff of medicinal alcohol as the fruit ages. The flavors have plenty of life, showing ripe cherry, toasted herb, earth and black tea touches.—Blind '94/'04 California Zinfandel retrospective (March 2014). Drink now.

By far the least expensive and largest-production (800 cases) of Hartford's single-vineyard Chardonnays, Stone Cote is no weak sister. It features a lovely complex boquet of toast and meal, butter and cinnamon, apples and lemons, and viscous, rich mouthfeel.

Bright medium ruby. Intriguing, highly aromatic nose combines tart dark berries, smoked meat and espresso. Thick, rich, deep and concentrated; conveys an impressively full, sweet impression. Finishes with ripe, even tannins. I like this!

The 1999 Pinot Noir Velvet Sisters Vineyard comes from the cooler northern area of Anderson Valley. Made from such clones as Dijon #115 and Pommard, this dark ruby-colored offering exhibits a sweet, raspberry, brown sugar-like bouquet as well as smoky, attractively integrated toasty scents, medium to full body, decent acidity, and outstanding purity and ripeness. Sixty percent new French oak was utilized during the aging process. While accessible, it promises to drink well for 5-8 years.