Ripe and expressive, with a range of baked apple, ripe pear, spice, nutmeg, mint and mineral flavors. Full-bodied, ending with a long, persistent finish that echoes a pithy grapefruit aftertaste. Drink now through 2017. 2,327 cases made.

Bright gold. Perfumed aromas of peach, tangerine, melon and flowers. Lush, sappy and seamless, offering deep pit fruit and candied citrus flavors with nuances of tarragon and toasted bread. Finishes very long, with enticing sweetness, a touch of lemon pith and lingering smokiness. This is pretty complex for an entry-level wine.

The 2009 Chardonnay Estate Russian River exhibits notes of white peaches, unbuttered popcorn, lemon oil and a hint of wet rocks along with a steely, Chablis-like character. Drink this fresh, medium-bodied, delicious Chardonnay over the next 2-3 years.

While the apricot, orange and green apple flavors in this Chardonnay are strong and sweet, the wine is balanced by brisk acidity and a minerality that feels and tastes like a lick of steel. It's a nice wine to drink now, although it's pricey for what you get.