Bright and jazzy, with pretty pineapple, grapefruit, elderflower and spice flavors that lingers on the finish without excess weight. This just floats on for a while. Drink now through 2012. 521,000 cases made.

Wine Spectator Rating: 90

[Issue: Feb 28/09]

Intense, with pear and quince notes that are ripe but racy, offset by a mouthwatering hint of lime and honeysuckle. The finish is long and juicy. Very tasty. Drink now through 2010. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 1,500 cases made.

Wine Spectator Rating: 90

[Issue: Web only 2009]

The Terres Dorees 2008 Beaujolais Blanc Chardonnay smells of lime, oregano, diverse flowers, white peach, and an apparent amalgam of chalk dust and sea breeze. With a formidable sense of underlying density and mysterious minerality, allied to luscious, vivacious peach and lime fruit, it displays a fine sense of richness while remaining, at 12% alcohol, quite light and finishes with irresistible juiciness and savor, reminiscent of Chenin Blanc or Riesling in its shimmering interchange of fruit and mineral. One can relish it anytime over the next several years, although it would be a shame to miss out on its youthful state.

Wine Advocate Rating: 91

[Issue: #184 / Aug 09]

INOX is Chehalem's unoaked Chardonnay, and Chardonnay doesn't get any more transparently fresh. Flavors of flower water, mineral, kiwi, lime, fennel and bracing minerality deliver pure pleasure. A great food wine.

Wine Enthusiast Rating: 90

[Issue: 12/15/09]

This spent seven months in oak with occasional lees stirring. It is medium straw-colored with toasty, tropical aromas. Medium-bodied, the wine has a creamy texture, ripe fruit flavors, good balance, and a lengthy finish.

Wine Advocate Rating: 90

[Issue: #178 / Aug 08]

Other top values from the iconic Calera winery include Calera’s least expensive Chardonnay, the 2008 Central Coast, which comes from an assortment of vineyards in Monterey, Santa Clara, and San Benito counties. This cuvee is put through 100% malolactic, and is aged in 10% new French oak for ten months. It offers abundant notes of honeysuckle, orange marmalade, white currants, and tropical fruits. Crisp, elegant, mid-weight, and revealing no evidence of its wood aging, it will provide plenty of pleasure over the next 1-2 years.

Wine Advocate Rating: 90

[Issue: #184 / Aug 09]

The 2008 Felino Chardonnay is light gold-colored with an expressive nose of apple, pear, and tropical fruits. Concentrated on the palate and balanced with lively acidity, this full-flavored, ripe Chardonnay will provide pleasure over the next 3 years.

Wine Advocate Rating: 90

[Issue: #184 / Aug 09]

A lovely Chardonnay, delicate and minerally, with luscious flavors of flowers, citrus fruits, Asian pears, vanilla and spice. Complex and easy to like.

Wine Enthusiast Rating: 90

[Issue: 12/01/09]

The last bottling of this basic village wine, done in March of 2009) Pink grapefruit, pineapple syrup and oyster shell on the nose. Then sweet and surprisingly creamy in the mouth, with a concentrated lemony flavor that avoids any impression of hardness. A very ripe wine from a crop that was sharply reduced by hail. For all its richness, this soil-driven village wine finishes with excellent grip and length.

Int'l Wine Cellar Rating: 90

[Issue: Jul/Aug 09]

Combines ripe, intense peach, nectarine and tangerine fruit, with touches of floral and spice. Gains body and depth, turning creamy in texture. Drink now through 2012.

Wine Spectator Rating: 91

[Issue: July 31/09]

Bright and focused, this elegant wine offers layers of peach, pear and citrus flavors on a sleek, racy frame. Very pretty. Drink now through 2011.

Wine Spectator Rating: 90

[Issue: Dec 31/09]

Well-structured, with rich layers of creamy fig, melon and apricot, gaining depth and complexity on the long finish. Drink now through 2011. 3,981 cases made.

Wine Spectator Rating: 91

[Issue: June 30/09]

Pale yellow. Pure, finely etched aromas of lemon, pink grapefruit, Anjou pear, tarragon and white pepper. Racy citrus and orchard fruit flavors are given depth by melon and candied licorice qualities, with dusty minerals adding grip. This wine's light touch and finishing precision are impressive, and it's balanced to age.

Int'l Wine Cellar Rating: 91

[Issue: May/June 09]

Light gold. Powerfully scented bouquet of lemon, orange, iodine and floral honey, with a suave spicy undertone. The citrus flavors repeat on the palate, along with gingerbread and tangy mineral qualities. Very fresh and precise, with excellent finishing lift and lingering minerality. This got about 38% new oak but I'm not seeing, or feeling it.

Int'l Wine Cellar Rating: 91

[Issue: May/June 09]

Revealing a more evolved, light to medium gold color, the 2007 Chardonnay Estate offers zesty, caramelized orange rind notes intermixed with lemon grass and a steely minerality. Medium to full-bodied and tightly knit, it looks set for at least 5-6 years of life.

Wine Advocate Rating: 91

[Issue: #184 / Aug 09]

The Chardonnay has arguably been one of the 3-4 best produced in Argentina for a number of years and the 2007 Chardonnay is no exception. It was 100% barrel-fermented, went through full malolactic fermentation, and was aged for 12 months in 50% new French oak on its lees. Light gold-colored, it has an outstanding bouquet of spiced apple and poached pear, with tropical fruits in the background. Medium to full-bodied, mineral and oak notes emerge on the palate accompanied by lively acidity, layered flavors, and excellent balance. Drink this classy Chardonnay over the next 3-4 years. Luca is the personal project of Laura Catena, M.D., daughter of Nicolas Catena, the founder of Catena-Zapata.

Wine Advocate Rating: 92

[Issue: #180 / Dec 08]

This bottling by veteran Foxen offers one of the starkest, most appealing choices available in California Chardonnay. Far from a superripe buttery monster, it’s a lean, elegant machine. With vibrant acidity and a mineral undergirding, it offers rich flavors of citrus fruits and rind and yeasty, Champagne-like lees.

Wine Enthusiast Rating: 94

[Issue: 12/31/08]

Brilliantly crisp and lushly creamy and honeyed, just a beautiful Chardonnay that offers decadence and sheer deliciousness. Massive in grilled pineapples, green apples, ripe nectarines and butterscotch, brightened with mouthwatering acidity. A joy to drink.

Wine Enthusiast Rating: 94

[Issue: 12/31/09]

Pale, bright yellow. Steely citrus peel aroma lifted by minerals and flowers. Juicy and subtle, offering more definition and grip to its pineapple, mineral and floral flavors than the Napa Valley version. Fresh acidity contributes to an impression of purity and thrust. But this firmly built, persistent wine is youthfully closed today.

Int'l Wine Cellar Rating: 91

[Issue: May/June 09]

This light gold-colored effort reveals no evidence of wood aging, offering terrific acidity as well as a distinctive subtle earthiness underlying the abundant display of honeysuckle, marmalade, and lemon blossom-like fruit. Deep, full-bodied, vibrant, and alive, it should drink well for 7-10 years.

Wine Advocate Rating: 93

[Issue: #184 / Aug 09]

A very ripe style, with lots of dried apple, toffee and toasty oak, yet fresh and rich on the palate. So much going on here. Like grand cru Burgundy. Drink now. 4,300 cases made.

Wine Spectator Rating: 93

[Issue: March 31/10]

Ripe layers of fig, green apple and pear are full-bodied yet elegant, gaining body and richness and ending with a full-blown finish, shaded by nutmeg. Drink now through 2012. 5,000 cases made.

Wine Spectator Rating: 91

[Issue: June 15/09]

One of California’s most successful stainless steel fermented and aged Chardonnays is Melville’s Clone 76 Inox. The medium to full-bodied 2008 Chardonnay Clone 76 Inox exhibits crisp acids along with lemon, peach blossom, and honeyed citrus notes. A delicious, naked expression of Chardonnay, it should drink nicely for 3-4 years.

Wine Advocate Rating: 90

[Issue: #184 / Aug 09]

Formans Chardonnays, which have always been non-malolactic and crisp, with very little new oak (around 20% new), continue to represent a grand cru Chablis-like style from Napa. The 2006 reveals the classic lemon blossom, apple rind, nectarine, and striking minerality that is followed by a medium to full-bodied, fleshy wine that shows terrific fruit, purity, and depth. A stony style of Chardonnay, it should age well for 4-5 years.

Int'l Wine Cellar Rating: 90

[Issue: May / June 08]

Intense, concentrated and full-bodied flavors of floral honeysuckle, pear and fig are shaded by cedary oak, returning to the primary flavors on the long, bubble gum-scented finish. Drink now through 2011.

Wine Spectator Rating: 93

[Issue: Dec 31/08]

Polished, creamy and nicely focused to show its pear, apple and hazelnut flavors, mingling easily against fine acidity on the long, expressive finish. Drink now through 2012. 450 cases made.

Wine Spectator Rating: 91

[Issue: May 31/09]

A supple style of Chardonnay that sports toasty pear, melon and nutmeg aromas and flavors, hovering gently as the finish sails on. Inviting. Drink now through 2013. 375 cases made.

Wine Spectator Rating: 92

[Issue: May 31/09]

The non-malolactic barrel-fermented, green/gold-colored 2007 Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch offers loads of tropical fruit, pear, and honeysuckle characteristics in its full-bodied personality. The oak component has been downplayed over recent vintages, and the wine is all the better for it, displaying gorgeously pure fruit. It should drink nicely for 2-4 years.

Wine Spectator Rating: 92

[Issue: #186 / Dec 09]

Simply delicious, a rich, buttery style, with ripe, vivid and delicate peach, pear and honeydew melon fruit that�s complex, concentrated and full-bodied, offering excellent length and depth. Creamy oak adds a touch of smoke and vanilla. The texture is silky. Drink now through 2016.

Wine Spectator Rating: 96

[Issue: Insider Nov 25/09]

Shows rich tropical fruit, with layers of tangerine, nectarine, fig and honey that are supple, full-bodied, smooth and elegant, ending with a complex mix of fruit and light toasty oak.

Wine Spectator Rating: 93

[Issue: Web Only 2008]

It reveals gorgeous acidity, more tropical fruit, nectarine, and orange blossom characteristics, a greenish hue to its color (always a good sign), and long, full-bodied flavors.

Wine Advocate Rating: 93

[Issue: #180 / Dec 08]

The 2007 Chardonnay Isobel, which took almost a year to finish its malolactic fermentation, displays a slight greenish hue to its color, some smoky hazelnut notes intermixed with lemon butter, white peach, honeysuckle, and brioche. It is full-bodied, with great fruit, underlying minerality, and a sensational finish. Most of these wines seem to easily pass 20 seconds on the palate.

Wine Advocate Rating: (94-96)

[Issue: #180 / Dec 08]

Rich and layered, offering complex, full-bodied pear, fig and melon flavors, with smoky, toasty notes that take on a subtle roasted marshmallow hint. Elegant and stylish, this is a shade less rich and opulent than prior vintages. Drink now through 2013. 1,000 cases made.

Wine Spectator Rating: 91

[Issue: Web only 2009]

The 2006 Chardonnay offers smoky, toasty, tropical notes with a hint of baked apple in the background. Creamy-textured, ripe, and well-balanced, it has succulent flavors and a long, pure finish. Drink it over the next 4 years.

Wine Advocate Rating: 91

[Issue: #177 / June 08]

There's wonderful perfumed, floral aromas of honeysuckle, lavender, ripe pear and apple in this pure, rich and silky white, which unfolds to reveal layers of fruit and light spicy, toasty oak nuances. Ends with a long, persistent finish that's engagingly complex. Drink now through 2016. 2,000 cases made.

Wine Spectator Rating: 95

[Issue: Feb 28/10]

The 2007 Chardonnay looks superb, with terrific tropical fruit such as pineapple intermixed with some poached pear, brioche notes, and citrus oils. The wine has beautiful intensity, full-bodied power, and zesty acidity, no doubt from the lack of any malolactic fermentation.

Wine Advocate Rating: 93

[Issue: #180 / Dec 08]

A blend of different vineyards, their 2007 Chardonnay Russian River might turn out to be one of the best Chardonnays they have made under this moniker. Crisp acids, beautiful lemon butter notes intermixed with brioche and orange/nectarine notes are all present in this full-bodied wine, with the oak pushed well into the background. This is a beauty that should drink nicely for 3-4 years.

Wine Advocate Rating: (90-93)

[Issue: #180 / Dec 08]

Fruit-driven and focused, with green and yellow apple and honeydew melon at the core. Medium- to full-bodied, with subtle hints of hazelnut-tinged oak on the finish. Drink now through 2014. 905 cases made.

Wine Spectator Rating: 92

[Issue: Mar 31/09]

Leesy citrus, grapefruit and honeydew melon flavors are full-bodied, intense and concentrated, with a pleasant earthy edge that builds depth and complexity on the finish.

Wine Spectator Rating: 91

[Issue: Web only 2009]

The 2007 Chardonnay Mount Carmel exhibits a liqueur of rocks-like component reminiscent of a Chassagne-Montrachet grand cru. Peach blossom, white citrus, and orange notes are present in this full-throttle, intensely flavored Chardonnay, and brilliant acidity gives the wine laser-like precision. This is another tour de force from these talented winemakers.

Wine Advocate Rating: 96

[Issue: #184 / Aug 09]

Deliciously complex and full-bodied, this is layered with flavors, showing citrus and tropical fruit, with hints of anise and buttery oak, yet the acidity keeps the flavors tangy and vibrant.

Wine Spectator Rating: 95

[Issue: Dec 31/08]

The 2007 Chardonnay Richard Dinner Vineyard reveals more earth, crushed rock, and tropical fruit (pineapple, orange marmalade, and peach) notes as well as admirable depth, medium to full body, well-integrated smoky oak, and a long finish.

Wine Advocate Rating: (92-93)

[Issue: #180 / Dec 08]

Pale chartreuse color. Alluringly complex bouquet displays ripe pear, peach pit, smoky lees, sweet butter and minerals; smells like a grand cru Burgundy. Vibrant, sharply focused citrus and orchard fruit flavors are underscored by smoky minerals and given depth by a candied anise quality. An iodine note builds on the finish, which is focused, nervy and very persistent.

Int'l Wine Cellar Rating: 93

[Issue: May/June 09]

The 2007 Chardonnay Ma Belle Fille ratchets up the level of performance. The good news is that there are just under 2,800 cases of this wine in the 2007 vintage. Super-ripe peach, nectarine, orange blossom, white currant, and stony mineral notes jump from the glass of this wine. It has full-bodied texture, superb purity, and tremendous depth and richness. All of these Chardonnays are aged in a combination of 33-80% new oak depending on the cuvee, and of course, are largely fermented with indigenous yeasts, kept on their lees, and bottled without any fining or filtration.

Wine Advocate Rating: (94-96)

[Issue: #180 / Dec 08]

The 2007 Chardonnay possesses abundant aromas of white peaches, citrus blossoms, crushed rocks (think liquid minerality), and honeyed tropical fruit presented in a full-bodied wine with good acidity, depth, and length. It should drink well for a decade.

Wine Advocate Rating: 95

[Issue: #186 / Dec 09]

Readers looking for something that tastes like pure crushed rocks liquified into a beverage should check out the nuanced 2007 Chardonnay Parmalee Hill Stone Flat Vineyard. Tropical fruits such as orange and nectarine as well as pineapple are present, but again, the liqueur of rocks dominates the wine, as there are also notes of quince and white currants. A powerful wine with great acidity and a long finish, this wine should evolve nicely for a decade or more.

Wine Advocate Rating: (94-96)

[Issue: #180 / Dec 08]

A special selection of the top barrels (125-150 cases produced), the 2007 Chardonnay The Judge is more backward than the regular Chardonnay, revealing a liqueur of rocks-like character intermixed with hints of almond paste, tropical fruits, quince, and mango. Its incredible length, richness, and depth suggest this wine will benefit from 1-2 years of bottle age, and should keep for over a decade. From a top vintage for proprietor/winemaker John Kongsgaard, the 2007 Chardonnays are among the finest he has made to date. They combine great richness and bold flavor profiles with extraordinary minerality and definition.

Wine Advocate Rating: 98+

[Issue: #186 / Dec 09]