The firm, keenly Kendall-Jackson Grand Reserve 2008 from Monterey and Santa Barbara Counties simple shines at the price.

Made from grapes grown in Jackson Estate's coastal vineyards, this tasty Chardonnay offers aromas of bright citrus, pineapple, green apple and toasty vanilla. The palate is crisp and food-friendly with tropical and apple flavors and just a hint of toasty oak on the finish. A very good value for summer sipping.

Each issue, our editors huddle up and select a pair of can't-miss, quality wines that are readily available across the country. This issue we suggest a red (shiraz) and white (chardonnay) combo that is a classic backyard pairing awaiting a barbecue or a block party or both. Spicy, melon, floral, butter, vanilla, mango, guava, light lychee aromas. Round, soft, off-dry palate with somewhat juicy acidity. Buttery, spicy lees, melon, honey, lychee, mango and vanilla flavours with a creamy finish. Riper, tropical style that offers good intensity and balance, with some finesse.

California: rich and ripe, with aromas and flavors of peaches and apricots.

Hard to go wrong with ol' KJ. Comfort wine for comfort sipping in these hard times.

You can't beat this wonderfully textured chardonnay from a prime growing region for chardonnay. Mango and spice with soft mouthfeel and long finish.

A tropical chardonnay that's balanced and elegant. Notes of pear, melon, apple, toast and spice. A sweet finish.

By the way, if you really, really are determined to pick up an American Chardonnay for less that $20, perhaps for entertaining this summer, you could do a lot worse than good old Kendall-Jackson. We always disagree about it - Dottie likes its round, buttery, mouth-coating and slightly Muscaty tastes, while John finds it too lab-made and oaky - but we both agree that there's never anything wrong with it and it's easy enough to drink. It's a solid Good wine, it costs about $12 or so and it's available pretty much everywhere. K-J has this Chardonnay down to a science...

The K-J Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay -- it's iconic in its price category.

Price is always a factor in choosing wine. ...some good and widely available values are made. Try Kendall-Jackson's 2007 Vintner's Reserve.

Chardonnay remains a big seller, but inexpensive versions can be noticeably sweet. Still there are some good choices out there. The ubiquitous 2007 Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay does contain a bit of residual sugar, but it's well-balanced by acidity, and the wine displays racy apple and pear flavors.

Here's a nicely balanced chardonnay that shouldn't be too hard to find around town and that drinks especially well for the price. The nose is fairly restrained for California chardonnay, with bits of butteriness and mango on the nose. The taste is smooth but not overly soft, with well-integrated flavors of apple and tropical fruits. Oh, and for you point-chasers out there: Robert Parker rated this wine at 90 points.

The flavors exceed what you would expect from a wine at this price. Ripe apple flavors with citrus notes and a hint of mango. a little residual sugar give it generous mouthfeel.

The creamy Kendall-Jackson Grand Reserve Chardonnay can stand up to the gumbo's intense flavors.

Rich - but not over the top - aromas of banana, pineapple and cream soda, with sophisticated spice notes. A big wine with significant flavors of oak and vanilla that are balanced by a cavalcade of tropical fruit.

Kendall-Jackson's self-evidently stylish, full-flavoured and well-balanced 2006 Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay was the only white I really wanted to drink.

For a good 25 years, this has been the gold standard for value-priced Chardonnay. Yes, you can crab at me for that statement, but its commercial availability, and its competitive price sometimes blur people's vision regarding this wine, but the palate tells it all - - it's an excellent Chardonnay. The nose has that apple-pear tango going on, with the butterscotch of toasted oak; and the palate is sweet and tart at the same time. Flavors have real punch, with lime zest, orange and minerality to punctuate the sweet apple-pear-nectarine fruit.

Kendall-Jackson's Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay is a generally well-regarded midpriced Chard.

The Kendall-Jackson 2006 California Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay, still sweetly fruity and characteristically oaky but slimmed down a bit from earlier incarnations and thus more refreshing.

A toasty, tropical chardonnay. Aromas and flavors of apricot, mango, apple, vanilla and honey. A popular pick.

Jackson is justifiably famous for his Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay, which has only gotten better as the winery has shifted solely to using grapes from its own vineyards.