California’s version of a great Louis Latour Batard-Montrachet, the 2004 Chardonnay Mount Carmel Vineyard is a honeyed, orange marmalade, caramel, and lemon butter-scented and flavored offering possessing full body, superb richness, intensity, and acidity, and dazzling purity. It should provide immense enjoyment over the next 7-8 years. Tel. (805) 735-9184

Rated 95 points in 2006, the 2004 Chardonnay Mt. Carmel Vineyard (14.9% natural alcohol) exhibits loads of buttery, orange blossom, lemon oil and caramelized apple skin notes. Deep, rich, full-bodied and French in style because of the acid profile, this still youthful beauty is aging impeccably well. Drink it over the next decade.