| 1998 Bien Nacido Vineyard Chardonnay - Gary Farrell |
| Golden straw color ; attractive aromas - buttery / delicate floral / ripe pear fruit / vanilla and spices ; full, flush on the palate, with fresh apple and pear fruit - lemon acidity comes forth ; components are well balanced and blend out to a lasting finish, where he fruit and clean acidity prevail. This is an extremely attractive wine. |
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| 1998 Hyde Vineyard Chardonnay - Kistler Winery |
| Production of this wine - 935 cases. Darker golden color ; unusual aromas - dominated by the yeast lees - mellowed somewhat with time in the glass ; very intensely flavored with powerful acids that carry through to the finish, and to a large degree bury the delicacy of the fruit ; flavors denote an element of meal ; extremely long finish. Expected much more fom this highly touted wine, which is now two years old. |
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| 1998 Sbragia Limited Release Chardonnay - Beringer |
| Full, golden color ; intense aromas of toasted oak, coupled with ripe spicey tree fruits ;fat, rich and juicy on the palate, with some gentle notes of honey in the fruit ; lasting oaky/fruit finish. This is very attractive, but I personally prefered the 1997 vintage, tasted last year. |
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| 1998 Napa Valley Chardonnay - Pahlmeyer |
| Light straw color ; toasted oak and ripe tree fruit - pears and apples - in the aromas ; round and rich on the palate, with excellent balance ; a big wine - plenty of power, with layers of flavors that are edged with toasty oak over the deep sweet fruit ; finish is very attractive and lasting. This is a huge wine that demands to be consumed with food - seared tuna steak comes to mind. |
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| 1999 River Block Chardonnay - J. Rochioli |
| Light straw color ; penetrating aromas of toasted oak, pear, apple and peach fruit ; round and full on the palate, with ripe, spicey tree fruit, and a hint of oak that blends well with the wine's acidity ; long, pleasing finish, with the fruit dominating and just a touch of oak. Outstanding wine that should continue to evolve further over the next two to three years. |
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| 1994 Cuvee D Sonoma Chardonnay - Kalin Cellars |
| Gilt/straw in color ; sophisticated and intense aromas - soft baked fruit with just a hint of oak ; round on the palate - oozes spicey ripe fruit with fine acidity ; incredible balance - yet seems like a young, fresh wine ; finishes extremely long with pleasing sweet ripe fruit flavors. An excellent wine that seems more like a white Burgundy in style, and reflects the care and patience of Frances and Terry Leighton in the winemaking and cellaring time prior to release. |
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| 1997 Napa Valley Reserve Chardonnay - R. Mondavi |
| Golden straw color ; powerful toasted oak aromas ; high lemony acidity on the palate, with deep fruit intermingled with the oak ; clean finish, with a mix of fruit and acidity. Interestingly, the oak, while prevailing in the aromas, is much softer in the wine's flavors and finish. Very much in the style of previous Reserve Chardonnays from Mondavi. |
