The uniqueness of Santa Maria Valley, as a whole, stems from its east-west orientation, instead of the usually north-south orientation of most California valleys. This orientation allows the cooling influence of the Pacific Ocean direct access to the vineyards. Indeed, vineyards just a few miles inland are considerable warmer, producing grapes and wines with different flavor profiles, than ones further west. Although Camelot Highlands is still in Santa Maria Valley, Kendall-Jackson’s Chardonnay from there is quite different from their other Santa Maria bottling, demonstrating the diversity of that valley. This one delivers more spiced tropical fruit flavors balanced by lively acidity. Tasting the two side-by-side shows that location does matter. 89 points.

Rounded aromas of Gravenstein apple, marmalade on warm toast and fine-grained oak show on the nose of this bottling. It’s clean and very classic on the palate, offering roasted apple, crushed nut, lemon rind and seared orange flavors.

Lush and open-textured, with concentrated flavors of ripe apple, pear, dried peach and melon. Creamy midpalate, offering butter and spice notes on the juicy finish.

The 2015 Chardonnay Santa Maria Valley offers lovely precision and nuance in a finely-knit style that captures the personality of the appellation nicely. Bright floral and orchard notes abound in this very pretty, nuanced Chardonnay from Kendall-Jackson.

The 2015 Chardonnay Grand Reserve offers lovely brightness to play off the rich, layered fruit. The cooler climate of these sites in Monterey and Santa Barbara yields a nuanced, delicate Chardonnay long on class and personality. This is a fabulous wine for the money.

The 2015 Chardonnay Jackson Estate Seco Highlands is often quite exotic because of the use of Rued Clone Chardonnay in the blend. That raciness is especially accentuated in 2015 because of the low yields. Ginger, mango and white flowers all resonate in this creamy, ample Chardonnay from Kendall-Jackson.

A by-the-glass go-to. Silky and juicy with bright, crisp acidity and good balance; tangy, clean and fresh.

This bright yellow Chardonnay from Kendall Jackson is very good again this vintage. It opens with an oak and pineapple bouquet. On the palate, this wine is medium bodied, slightly acidic and mouthwatering. The flavor profile is a tangy pineapple with notes of gentle oak and Bosc pear. I also detected hints of lime. The finish is dry and flavors are nicely prolonged. This Chard is once again a crowd pleaser and would pair nicely with grouper fillets with lemon butter caper sauce. 89 points. Very good.

Tropical fruit, mango, spice, almond, orange peel and a slightly reductive notes are all pushed forward in the 2014 Chardonnay Santa Maria Valley, an unusually tropical, overt wine for this part of Santa Barbara County.

Straw yellow in color, this widely available wine offers vanilla, lemon curd, honeysuckle and a touch of browned butter on the nose. Once sipped, seared lemon and yellow apple show first, settling into a vanilla cream groove and finishing on a touch of marshmallow.

The 2014 Chardonnay Grand Reserve adds a bit more intensity and creaminess through the middle. Apricot jam, chamomile, sweet spices and buttery notes wrap around the voluptuous, inviting finish. This is another tasty, budget-friendly Chardonnay.

Lots of fresh apple flavors, a crisp balance and smooth mouthfeel make this light-bodied wine refreshing and fun to drink. It has some richness on the midpalate and finish, but basically keeps its lively, tangy personality going.

A big but mild-mannered wine, this has subtle oak and butter aromas plus ripe pear, butterscotch and white-peach flavors. A nicely thick texture carries all the complexity through the finish.

Silky and juicy with bright acidity and good structure; racy, fresh and balanced; crisp, clean and classic; America's biggest-selling Chardonnay.

The exuberance of the Russian River comes through in spades in the 2013 Chardonnay Jackson Estate Piner Hills. Almonds, hazelnuts, smoke and juicy ripe orchard fruit open up nicely in the glass. Attractive hints of spice round out the creamy, resonant finish. There is no shortage of personality here.

The 2013 Chardonnay Jackson Estate Camelot Highlands presents a distinctly Burgundian, reduced character, especially in its aromatics. Smoke, matchstick, apricot jam and wild flowers are all quite expressive in the glass. Stylistically, the Camelot Highlands stands apart from the rest of the wines in the range because of its reductive notes.

Smooth, lush and creamy with elegant balance and good structure; soft oak and juicy fruit.

I liked this wine much more than I thought I would. I was afraid it might be too clean, correct, corporate--and it is all those things, but that doesn't mean it lacks character. With its lacey texture and hints of pineapple the wine may not send you off into a meditative state, but even without causing you to contemplate the complex virtues of Chardonnay you're going to enjoy every sip of Avant paired with unpretentious food such as turkey burgers, spaghetti with white clam sauce, or fish tacos. Or what the heck, just open a bag of potato chips and pour the wine, and you'll be pleased to discover what a satisfying food and wine combo this is.

Fresh, smooth and juicy with lovely pear and citrus fruit; lovely vanilla oak and lush texture; balanced, long and, once again, an impressive achievement.

The 2012 Chardonnay Jackson Estate Piner Hills is quite subtle and layered in the glass. This soft, floral Chardonnay shows the more laid-back, restrained side of the Russian River. Pear, spice, vanillin and almond notes are woven into the caressing finish.

Bright yellow-gold. Intense peach and melon scents are sharpened by notes of lemon zest and minerals. Pliant and broad but lively too, offering sappy pit and orchard fruit flavors that pick up a spicy nuance with air. Finishes smooth, warm and long, with repeating peachiness. These vines are planted on their own roots and went into the ground in 1971, which makes them extremely old for California chardonnay.

Lots of exotic tropical papayas and guavas in this soft, honeyed Chard. It’s rich and creamy, yet shows enough acidity to lend it balance. Great to drink with lobster, crab, scallops.

Kendall-Jackson's 2011 Chardonnay Grand Reserve caresses the palate with dried pears, flowers and sweet spices. Next to the other 2011 Chardonnays in the range, the Grand Reserve places more emphasis on depth, structure and richness. An expressive, caressing finish rounds things out very nicely. The 2011 is made from Santa Barbara and Monterey County fruit. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2016.

America's most popular Chardonnay is smooth and creamy with ripe tropical fruit and tangy acidity; a lovely wine deserving of its fame.

The 2010 Chardonnay Camelot Highlands is a gorgeous wine layered with intense notes of minerality that frame dried apricots, wild herbs, dried flowers and orange zest. The delineation and nuance here is superb. Subtle hints from the oak linger on the finish. Estate owned vineyards in Santa Maria and Santa Barbara supply the fruit. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2016.