A tropical chardonnay with bright acid. Aromas and flavors of pineapple, apricot, lemon and mineral. Lush.

The long, cool growing season of the Sonoma Coast AVA is a nearly perfect climate for growing Chardonnay, and La Crema's Sonoma Coast Chardonnay is a hallmark of the region's potential. A blend of clonal selections is the basis for this bottling including several California clones (Clone 4, Robert Young and Rued) along with Dijon clone fruit which has become more widely planted in recent years. Look for bright aromas of citrus and ripe apple with notes of toasty oak and butterscotch. The palate is well structured with a base of citrus and pear flavors, enhanced by hints of caramel and floral perfume, and finishing with lingering citrus and vanilla.

A creamy chardonnay with aromas and flavors of pear, melon, vanilla, toast and spice. Has a lush texture. Nice length.

It was well balanced with generous citrus and toasted oak aromas followed by apple and orange flavors, good mouthfeel and a hint of vanilla and butterscotch. A good value for what you get.

One of six wines recently won favor with the Chronicle tasting panel while also offering great value and good local availability...Great for just hanging out and sipping.

This staple of the Jackson Family Wines portfolio did well with its '08. Aged mostly in older oak, it's a brimming bowl of ripe fruit, slightly tropical and banana, and giving off peach and Meyer lemon as well. Clean and unflashy in its style, it finishes with a punch of tangy citrus.

Lean, toasty, citric nose. Supple and forward, but has underlying acidity to lift the finish. Balanced and long.

Beautiful apple and toast nose. Very elegant and classy, with apple and citrus flavors. A terrific package.

Take La Crema's 2007 Monterey Chardonnay, the inaugural vintage for this wine. It's a blend of about 250 distinct vineyard blocks all barrel-fermented separately. Stackhouse and her team will taste the lots blind all year long, putting together trial blends to see what they like or don't like and then decide on a direction for the final blend. They don't allow themselves to rely on whatever the blend was the year before.

A new appellation for an old favorite.

Top Wines of Sonoma: Sonoma Wine Country Weekend August 2009

The chardonnay is baked apple, baked pear, a little shortbread. Not flabby.

Top Wines of Sonoma: Sonoma Wine Country Weekend August 2009.

That's my favorite chardonnay --it's driven by lemon zest, minerality and a stony, minerally finish. It's my favorite Chard of the bunch, too--you want to think Burgundy, though you know it's California fruit in the heart of that river of midpalate flavors. The 2007 is La Crema's first Los Carneros Chardonnay.

The 2007 Los Carneros Chardonnay is another of the winery's inaugural vintages, on the other hand, is full of lemon zest and stony minerality, a little more coy, with some of the grapes coming from the Durell Vineyard.

Lively citrus aromas, with flavors of toasty oak and caramel; rich and creamy.

A big wine, with 14 percent alcohol; ripe and rich and creamy, with powerful baked fruit flavors.

Experience shows in California pinot noirs - After more than 20 years of research, experimentation and hard work, California pinot noir producers are hitting their stride.

Think lime zest, fresh green apples and honeysuckle with the 2007 La Crema Sonoma Coast Chardonnay.

Subtle aromas of tropical fruit and (yes) a whiff of fresh cream; mouth fleshy but quite firm with tasteful new oak garnish.

The 2007 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay is a citrus-tinged, mouthwatering chardonnay that, as Stackhouse describes, doesn't have any elbows, with just a cameo appearance or oak, juicy but not flabby, a result of its cool-climate fruit.

The cool climate of California's Sonoma Coast gets this wine crisp, concentrated pear flavors to complement its smooth vanilla notes. Pair with creamy pasta dishes.

A rich, creamy chardonnay. Aromas and flavors of pear, apple, melon and spice. Silky finish.