VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Acacia
1999 Chardonnay
Carneros, Napa County

Light yellow-green; complex, attractive butter, tropical, pineapple, fig, peach, dill and mineral aromas show lees, malolactic fermentation and oak (too much?); lightly sweet, fruity, tropical, slightly candied, mineral, citric, deep flavors; soft mouthfeel, light to medium body with some richness; balanced; slightly tart, faint heat in the long finish, 13.9%. Pleasing, complex style; very nice wine, although some panelists thought a little too oaky. ($15) WEBSITE

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Gallo of Sonoma
1999 Chardonnay
Sonoma County

Light yellow; sweet, ripe citrus, apple, nectarine, peach and tropical fruit and floral aromas with touches of yeast, vanilla and toasty oak in the background; pleasant, peach and tropical fruit flavors; light to medium body, rich, luscious, with a soft mouthfeel; balanced; noticeable oak in slightly lingering finish, 13.5%. Very nice, very varietal and easy to drink Chardonnay at a very good price. BEST BUY ($10) WEBSITE

(2nd bottle)
Gallo of Sonoma
1999 Chardonnay
Sonoma County

Light yellow; light, fruity, melon, pineapple, toast and mineral aromas; pleasant, fruity, complex, lemon zest, fig and butter flavors; medium to full body (faint spritz?); balanced; crisp, slightly sweet, faint heat in lingering finish, 13.5%. Very nice, easy drinking Chardonnay at a very good price. BEST BUY ($10) WEBSITE

Gallo of Sonoma
1998 Chardonnay
Sonoma County

Light yellow; green olive, muted apple and tropical fruit, toasty, vanilla, oak, baby powder and creamy-buttery, malolactic aromas; ripe melon, juicy fruit and oak flavors, a little hollow in the center; mouth-filling, medium to full body; balance is slightly low in acid; faint heat in the long finish, 13.5%. Not quite a fresh tasting as its younger sisters, this vintage seems to have more oak influence; still a nice wine and a value. BEST BUY ($10) WEBSITE

Solitude
2000 Chardonnay
Carneros, Sonoma County

Pale yellow-green; fruity, slightly floral, rose petal and tropical aromas with butter, nuts, butterscotch, minerals, toasty oak; soft, ripe, pleasantly fruity flavors begin well, fall off; light body; very good balance, seems a touch sweet as it warms; slightly lingering finish, 14.4%. Nice wine that shows the youthful tendency toward freshness and simplicity; should gain complexity and harmony in a few months. ($23) *WEBSITE

RECOMMENDED

Beckman
1996 Chardonnay "Barrel Select"
Santa Barbara

Pale straw yellow; sweet vanilla, caramel, oak, nutty, lees, baby powder and toasted marshmallow aromas dominate citric fruit; complex, initially sweet, citrus, caramel, fig and walnut flavors are followed by tartness; light to medium body; balanced, although it seems somewhat segmented; tart finish, 13.2%. Fairly varietal and easy-drinking wine, although its elements seem not quite "married". ($20.50) *WEBSITE

Ch. St. Jean
1996 Chardonnay
Alexander Valley, "Robert Young"

Light straw yellow; complex, mature, slightly fruity, lemony aromas with touches of butter, butterscotch, caramel, vanilla, nuts, oak, baby powder, lees and toast; mature flavors; medium body with good mouthfeel and some richness; well-balanced; finishes long, slightly harsh, slightly hot, 14.9%. This wine scored very high marks in wine publications when released and is showing very well now, three years later. ($30 at release, available at $15 while supply lasts). WEBSITE

TASTED

Murphy-Goode
1999 Chardonnay
Alexander Valley

Pale straw yellow; lean, light nondescript fruit, vanilla and cardboard, slightly musty, sweaty, soapy aromas (filter pad?); weak, light, lean, citric, chemical, sweat,alcohol and aspirin-like flavors; thin, light body; crisp, tart balance, lacks fruit (sour?); tart, hot finish, 13.5%. Flavors seem unripe and chemical, very disappointing. ($12) WEBSITE

Ridge
1999 Chardonnay
Monte Bello Vineyard, Santa Cruz Mountains

Light yellow-green; strong, pungent, burnt, chemical, smoky-woody aroma hides light, flowery fruit (ethyl acetate?); dull flavors also dominated by earth, wood, terpene; medium body; needs fruit to be balanced; finishes tart, slightly harsh from tannin, and a little hot, 14.5%. Ten months have lapsed since this wine was bottled. Could there possibly still be some fruit that has yet to come out of hiding? ($44) WEBSITE

CORKED BOTTLE

Clos du Bois
1999 Chardonnay
Calcaire Vineyard, Alexander Valley

Very pale yellow-green; oak and ripe apple or nectarine fruit aromas marred by rubber (sulfur?), musty and distinct TCA cork taint; TCA also ruins lean, Chablis-style flavors; thin body; balanced (?); finishes tart, hot and slightly bitter, 14.1%. Past versions of this wine have scored well; cork taint ruins another bottle. ($22) WEBSITE