Chardonnay

Light golden in color.  The nose has lemons, vanilla, fresh cut lumber, slight tropical fruits and butter.  On the palate, this has a fair amount of oak showing.  Perhaps with some age it sheds some of it.  There is plenty of lemon fruit and it is a bit buttery.  Decent acidity.  It presents a style of Napa Chardonnay that seems people either love or hate.  It is a well made wine and if you like a more buttery and oaked Chard, add a few points.  

Light gold in color.  The nose has lemon chiffon and vanilla and a bit of spice.  Wonderful mouth feel.  Creamy texture.  Lemon chiffon with some vanilla.  Good acidity.  Deep.  This drinks well now but should age for a decade or more depending on how you like older Chardonnays.  Delicious wine.  

Always an interesting experience venturing into the Jura.  Made by Ludwig "Lulu" Bindernagel.  75% Chardonnay, 25% Savagnin.  Light medium gold in color.  The nose is interesting.  Almost like a dry sherry that's not oxidized.  Almonds, slightly "fleshy" with a dried orange peel note.  On the palate, there is a nice slightly oily texture.  Some vanilla, minerals, almonds and bits of lemon.  Nice enough acidity.  Long finish.  Very different and hard to put into context.  I liked it and even more so as it warmed.  

This was fun to throw into a Burgundy tasting.  Is it on point?  Technically, yes.  And at $15, no harm done.  This is actually a wonderful value for a Chardonnay of this level.  Medium golden in color.  The nose is interesting with minerals, some lemon, and spice.  I wouldn't think this saw oak, but it certainly had some of those characteristics.  On the palate, this is tart with almost a cherry quality which is interesting for a white.  Some minerality.  A bit of depth.  I would prefer a bit more acidity and cut but it was fine.  

For under $25, this is an excellent value in Chablis, in Burgundy and in Chardonnay.  Light, silvery/gold in color, clear and bright.  The nose has some gun powder and some slight green apples.  Also nice minerality/chalk.  On the palate, this is lively and crisp.  Nice green apple and minerals notes.  Long finish.  This would go great with foods as well.  It should be drunk in the next few years.  

Light golden in color.  The nose is nice with minerals/slight chalk and lemon chiffon.  On the palate, this has a nice acidity.  Works well with food.  Some lemons but more about the minerality.  Long finish.  Not sure how this will age but at 5 years from vintage, it is in a great place.  Refreshing but with some complexity.  

I have had this before and loved it, but this bottle, not so much.  Perhaps an off bottle or shut down at this time?  Just last summer, I scored it 100 points, so this was curious.  Some liked it more than I, but most of the room seemed to comment that it wasn't what they might have been expecting.  It is good, but this should be one of the preeminent California Chardonnays.  It happens, but I can only review the bottle I drank.  Light green/gold in color.  The nose is dusty with tine, clay, spice and oak.  No fruit.  No noticeable TCA or other faults.  On the palate, it has a nice texture.

Rhys Chard's are among my favorite Chardonnay's anywhere.  They often get tagged as "Burgundian" but I think they are a beautiful expression of the grape as grown in Santa Cruz.  This one was pop and pour and it was singing.  Gold/silver in color with slight green.  The nose is great with a lemon-vanilla cream along with a nice mineral base.  On the palate, this is vibrant with great acidity.  Great bright fruit.  Lemon with some vanilla and a nice minerality.  Long finish.  Great with a potato chowder.  Just a beautiful wine.  I think these age well but perhaps shut down at some point only

Light golden in color.  The nose has spice and lemons.  On the palate, this has a loose/fat texture but at the same time a crisp acidity.  While a bit more precision is nice, the overall package is very pleasing.  Nice lemons notes on the palate.  Good finish.  Clean and very drinkable Chardonnay.  Worked well with food.  

Everyone who tried this had the same reaction - this is interesting.  After that some loved it and some hated it.  More of the later I think.  Certainly not for everyone but I enjoyed it.  Deep golden in color.  High toned and a bit oxidized.  Fascinating nose that had a fleshy note, oranges, cumin and acetone.  On the palate, this is very drying.  Orange peel and lots of minerals.  Depth and lots of things going on.  I guess food neutral would be how I would describe it.  Some acidity but it plays in its own world.