Chardonnay

Light golden in color with slight green tinges.  The nose is very nice with some lemon cream and underlying minerality.  This has a nice smokiness to it and also a bit of salinity.  On the palate, this is a bit fat and more acidity would be nice.  That said, it has lovely lemon fruit and a nice minerality.  Good finish.  It would work well with some rich seafood dishes.  

Light green gold in color.  The nose is nice with slight vanilla, lots of minerality and some lemon.  Also, with air, some eucalyptus/minty notes.  On the palate, this is crisp and lean (in a good way).  Less oak showing on the palate.  Nice clean finish.  This should work nicely with sea food and lighter foods.  Youthful, it should age out a bit over the next ten years.  

Silvery/gold in color.  The nose is very nice with gunpowder and slight lemon chiffon.  On the palate, this is slightly oily.  Nice lemony notes.  OK acidity.  A very nice wine that should work with lighter foods.  Fresh and lively right now.  It should be good for another five to ten, but it won't improve.  

This is a wonderful Champagne.  Light silvery gold in color.  A nice mousse with lots of tiny bubbles.  The nose is clean with seltzer, minerals and as it opens, slight cherry notes.  On the palate, this has great tart acidity.  Lots of lemons and some quince.  As it warms, some vanilla comes out.  Long chalky finish.  This is very young but drinking quite well right now.  Will go with just about any food.  Give it a few years and it will probably earn a perfect score.  

I had meant to open this with food, but we were starting to drink reds, and I wanted to open this earlier.  And the food was still being prepared, so we drank this as a cocktail.  It was very good that way, but luckily, there was a glass (or at least a few ounces left) to try with food.  Even better.  Light golden in color.  The nose is nice with lemon cream and slight vanilla.  It took a few minutes and then really picked up.  On the palate, this is crisp with good acidity.  Plenty of depth.  Lemon cream and slight vanilla again.  Good finish.  This is young and probably could use more air

This is drinking great at pop and pour though it seems like it will do five more years easily and probably ten.  Light gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has some grapefruit with a very slight vanilla.  Very clean.  On the palate this has ripe grapefruit, minerals, slightly chalky, with slight green apples.

Most of us have bottles laying around the house that either people brought over or they somehow ended up with.  So is the story of this wine.  It was actually won in a raffle.  Initially, the idea of actually drinking some cheap California Chardonnay seemed ridiculous.  Still, rather than be dismissive, the plan was to drink it.  After about a month of staring at the bottle, the time finally came.  And that good people, is why we need to open the bottle and taste.  Now, that is not to say this is going to blow away Montrachet or Rhys Chardonnay.  But, for under $15, this was solid.  No obvi

From a 375ml bottle.  Rhys makes some of the best Chards in California, but this is from purchased fruit and so carries the Alesia name.  It does seem like the oak treatment is different as well.  This is a sold Chardonnay but not nearly in the class of the Rhys Chards.  Light gold/green in color.  The nose is nice with minerals, spice, slight lemons and slight lumber.  On the palate, the minerals and lumber carry thru.  Some lemon.  Lean in body with good acidity.  This will work with a lots of foods.  

Light golden in color.  The nose has some oak/spice on it but not a ton.  Also some baked apples.  On the palate, the apples are fresh with a slight bit of ripeness.  The oak is a bit more persistent but again, not over the top.  Good bite of refreshing acidity.  Nice finish.  This works on its own as a cocktail wine but will work just fine with lighter fare.  It should make good drinking over the next few years.  It may not be worth long term cellaring, but it might surprise.  

Wow.  Rhys hits another home run with this Chardonnay.  Light golden in color.  The nose is great with lemon cream and vanilla.  The palate matches.  Smooth and almost seamless.  Depth and complexity.  So good right now that it would be a shame not to drink one this young.  Based on past history, this is likely to shut down for a bit and not emerge for 7 or so years.  So, if you don't like older Chards or can't wait, then just enjoy now!  Will work with medium or lighter weight foods.