1998 Farallon
North Coast Chardonnay
Score: 86.0
"Light and appley with a hint of vanilla, silky on the mid-palate and crisp through the long finish. A pleasant quaff at a bargain price, with firm structure to serve well with such fare as pasta alfredo, scallops, and bechamel. A natural for the restaurant environment, where it will sell for around $20. "
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1997 Robert Mondavi
Napa Valley Chardonnay "Reserve, unfiltered"
Score: 93.0
"This is one beautifully balanced wine, and more complex than words can easily convey. Dry pear with subtle oak shadings, a hint of caramel, medium-bodied, light spicy, nutty finish. Very elegant."
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1998 Lawrence J. Bargetto
Central Coast Chardonnay
Score: 87.0
"Very attractive perfumed nose, floral citrus notes on the palate, light, lively, atypical but a helluva lot of fun."
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1998 Mill Creek
Napa Valley Chardonnay
Score: 82.0
"A decent wine, though disjointed and angular. The oak is a bit coarse."
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1998 Kenwood Vineyards
Sonoma County Chardonnay
Score: 81.0
"A combination of barrel fermented and stainless steel fermented portions, the Kenwood offers the cramyness of a barrel fermented wine with the bright crisp acidity of a wine fermented in stainless. But while the nose is expansive and promises complexity, the palate is fairly simple and the finish is abrupt and slightly bitter."
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1998 Stellenryck
South Africa Chardonnay
Score: 78.0
"comes off as a bit corked, and has some spritz. Decent apple fruit underneath. Good varietal definition."
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1997 LOrmarins
South Africa Chardonnay
Score: 75.0
"Very dry, austere apple. Absolutely dies on the palate."
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1998 Hess Select
California Chardonnay
Score: 87.0
"Strikes a balance between the contrasting styles of Chardonnay-the heavily oaked style and the bright fruity style. This wine has an oaky nose, but on the palate the focus is on the appley fruit. Nice cinnamon notes round out the mid-palate and carry through to the finish. "
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1998 Domaine St. George Barrel Fermented
California Chardonnay Barrel Reserve
Score: 86.0
"Fresh ripe appley fruit with light vanilla, silky texture and crisp acidity. Rather simple but verynicely structured and balanced for food."
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1998 Mirassou
Mission Vineyard Monterey County Chardonnay Harvest Reserve
Score: 92.0
"A melange of bright tropical fruit, the mission vineyard Chardonnay is at once lush and restrained, with intense citrusy fruit through the finish. First rate. "
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1998 Mirassou
San Vicente Vineyard Monterey County Chardonnay Harvest Reserve
Score: 91.0
Bright and lively pear and citrus with a thin line of caramel and light toast. Great fish wine.
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1997 Handley
Anderson Valley Chardonnay Estate
Score: 85.0
"Lemon and vanilla, tart, with a crisp acid finish that goes on and on. On the simple side, but beautifully structured."
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1997 Navarro Premier Reserve
Anderson Valley Mendocino Chardonnay
Score: 98.0
"Approaching perfection. Astounding layers of ripe tropical fruit in the nose; muted mango, apricot and pineapple with mineral overtones on the palate, very subtle and complex oak, dry as a bone, silky texture, and a lingering finish of pink grapefruit and minerals. A fantastic bargain in todays market. Try with stroganoff, cashew chicken, fajitas with papaya salsa."
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Navarro
Anderson Valley Chardonnay Premier Reserve
Score: 88.0
"Many faceted and balanced with citrusy fruit and subtle mineral notes, the '97 Navarro is silky and full-bodied, yet possesses an edge of bright acid that lifts fruit in the finish."
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1998 Pine Ridge Dijon Clones
Napa Valley-Carneros Chardonnay
Score: 91.0
"Dominated by toast, butter, ripe pineapple and apple flavors, there are also some subtle lees and mineral notes on the palate. It has a velvety texture, and a finish of sour apples, light spice and a drop of citrus. Full-flavored enough to stand up to traditional red wine fare like steak, or pair with pork and cajun dishes."
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