Chardonnay Wine between $25 and $50

Our 2011 Napa Valley Chardonnay opens with fresh, creamy aromas of ripe pear, apple and citrus, with light butter, yeast and spicy oak tones adding complexity. The wine’s rich, focused, green apple, melon and guava flavors are nicely balanced by fresh acidity and a piquant mineral tone. Both mouthfilling and elegant, this quintessential Napa Valley Chardonnay is delectable now, but it will develop even greater complexity with another 5-8 years’ bottle age.

In the glass, this wine has a classic Chardonnay hue of pale golden straw. The bouquet draws you in with delicate nuances of wet stones, lichee, white peach, orange blossoms, and a slight hint of toasted almonds. The palate is soft and fleshy and loaded with bright citrus tones of sweet mandarin and Meyer lemon, white nectarine and rich tropical notes of guava, pineapple, and lichee – all complemented by subtle sweet oak. There is a delicate smoothness to this Chardonnay and fantastic weight throughout. This is the wine you’ll want to bring to the next big dinner party or business lunch– get ready to accept the kudos.

Vibrant acidity is the defining character of both the 2010 vintage and this beautiful wine. Bright flavors of citrus and stone fruit are layered over a taut and structured frame that is underscored by touches of mineral and flint. Like most wines of this type, the 2010 Chardonnay draws its complexity and mouthfeel from delicate contact with its primary fermentation lees rather than from extended time in oak barrels. These elements combine to create the perfect match to a dozen briny oysters or, just maybe, a second refreshing glass.

Crafted from grapes grown without artificial fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides, our Chardonnay displays the classic style that Miljenko “Mike� Grgich established when we began in 1977. The wine’s crisp, yet rich, flavors of apple, honeydew melon and fig with a hint of baked brioche are perfect for fresh seafood, roasted chicken and pork, or creamy cheeses.