The nose is very sweet - apples and tropical fruit (reminds me of pineapple upside down cake, with caramelized brown sugar!) with hints of citrus and smoke. Juicy fruit on the palate is never as sweet as the nose, and is cleansed with crisp acidity and citrus, with a long lemon peel finish. Mouth-watering and delicious!

It is a wow moment for a $17 chardonnay. Keeping the vintage in mind, this one reminds me of California Central Coast (Edna or Arroyo Grande). Plump, with sweet oak and caramel nose, but kept in check by acidity and minerals. Manly. Overperforms. Celebrity equivalent: Kiefer Sutherland.