Baked apples and toast flow up on the nose. The palate is rich and round, baked apples and pears swimming with vanilla cream and toasty pastry. Lemon chiffon gives a sweet but bright tartness to tame the fruit and wood. The baked fruit lingers. This is a crowd-pleasing Chardonnay you can pour for anybody. Pair with crab cakes. Recommended. 89 points. DBH
WHO: Rodney Strong Vineyards
WHAT: Chardonnay
WHEN: 2015
DESIGNATION: Chalk Hill
WHERE: Sonoma County, California
HOW MUCH: $22 (media sample)
POINTS: 89