Chardonnay

This is a white wine made from Chardonnay blended with Rhone varietals.  Light golden in color.  The nose has toasty oak with a bit of nuttiness along with a lemon cream and spice.  Slight floral notes.  On the palate, this is a big wine and drinks better with a chill (say 50F).  The nuttiness carries thru along with the lemon y notes.  There is some oak on this as well.  Some warmth on the finish, but not over the top.  It is delicious on its own and will work with bigger foods such  as a burger or ribs.  It should be consumed over the next three to five years.  

This is a nice value for a California Chardonnay for those who like a touch of oak and slight butteriness.  Pale golden in color.  The nose has pineapple with baking spices and oak.  An interesting graphite/gravel note comes out with air.  On the palate, this has a full bodied, rich texture.  Slightly viscous with just a perception of sweetness.  Oak, lemons and melon on the nose with a touch of alcohol.  Some warmth on the finish.  Served at a tasting, this was quite popular with Napa Chardonnay lovers.  I don't think this will improve but it should dirnk well for five to seven years.  It

I have been on a kick this summer trying the wines from this winery.  This is their least expensive Chardonnay.  This is a crisp Chardonnay that see no new oak and only 25% used French oak.  Light golden in color.  The nose is pretty with slight tropical fruits/melon but more lemon/lime notes and nice minerality.  Medium bodied.  Crisp acidity.  On the palate, the minerality leads followed by a nice peachy quality and a bit of lemon.  Long finish.  This is delicious on its own and should be very versatile with all but the heaviest or lightest foods.  It should probably be consumed over the

This is a club member only wine from Orin Swift that is 100% Chardonnay.  It is a big wine, as expected, but at age 8, it is drinking very well.  Medium golden in color.  The nose has tropical fruit, baking spices and slight melon.  On the palate, this is full bodied with a slightly oily texture.  Lots of melon fruit with some oak.  Some warmth on the finish.  It does have enough acidity to carry the fruit.  This is drinking well now and should easily go another five years.  It will work with bigger food, and even a steak if you like or drink it on its own.  

What a superb Chardonnay.  This is still a bit on the younger side, but drinking very well.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is clean and delightful.  Minerals with lemons and just a hint of Meyer lemon and an herbal note.  Medium bodied.  On the palate, this is crisp with excellent acidity.  Minerals galore.  Layers of complexity unwind in the glass.  A bit of lemon pith especially on the finish.  This is great now on its own and will work with all sorts of food.  Baked seafood would be a great choice.  It should continue to improve for the next seven to ten years and be

One of my favorite Chardonnays from one of my favorite regions for producing Chardonnay.  This is fantastic.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose is great with a stony minerality, vanilla cream, chalk and sea air.  On the palate, this is medium body but concentrated and powerful.  A nice streak of acidity balances the lemon-vanilla cream notes with an underlying minerality.  Long finish.  This is still very young of course and should continue to gain complexity.  It needs five more years until peak and should be great drinking for ten to fifteen after that.  This seems like i

Interesting Trivia bit - The original owners of Lanmark were descendants of John Deere of Tractor fame.  Overlook was the name of John Deere's home in Illinois.  The wine is sourced from various locations around Sonoma County.  This is an outstanding value in Chardonnay.  They produce quite a bit of it yet manage to be very consistent from vintage to vintage and bottle to bottle.  It barrel fermented and spends 25% in new French oak.  The lees are stirred every two weeks as it goes thru full malolactic fermentation.  It is green/gold in color.  The nose is very nice with vanilla and peaches

I have had a fair amount of wine from this producer over the years with various results for my tastes.  Sometimes, the wines carry too much oak and others they are amazing.  No doubt, some of the difference is due to the fruit and some the vintage.  And tastes vary.  This one straddles the line for me and goes right up to the edge but doesn't cross that line.  For those who have issues with obvious oak this might cross that line.  Medium golden in color.  The nose has vanilla, lemon, fresh cut lumber and spice.  On the palate, the vanilla and lumber come thru along with a delightful sour le

This is a new winery for me to try.  Golden in color.  The nose shows vanilla with peaches.  On the palate, this is medium bodied.  Some peach and grapefruit.  Good acidity.  Nice finish.  Overall, a very pleasant Chardonnay.  It drinks well on its own now and will work with lighter fare.  Drink this over the next five to seven years.