In recent years Chardonnay has taken a hit for being over done. A bad Chardonnay is like a melting ice cream cone on a summer day: Too much, a big mess, and all over the place. These wines are the opposite offering cool and clean flavors.

Chateau St. Jean 2003 Sonoma County Reserve Chardonnay
Big and rish this is a quintessential California Chardonnay. It is delicious mixing ripe and vibrant flavors of pear, fig, honeysuckle, and nectarines. This wine is aged in French oak for 17 months, giving it a touch of toasted hazelnuts. A Sonoma County Chardonnay of this caliber is worth more than the $40 price tag.

Iron Horse 2003 Estate Chardonnay
Simple with tangy fruit flavors. You will find flavors of green applie, pears, and peaches with an overlay of oak notes. The round mouthfeel and balanced balanced finish make this an excellent experience. $25.

Cuvaison Winery 2004 Chardonnay
While fads come and go, ther will always be a demand for a clean, sophisticated Chardonnay. Fortunately it is available in the Cuvaison. It's about a full bodied glass of wine with flavors of citrus fruit, figs, and a slight hint of wood. The blance on the palate is wonderful, but serve it with food and it will really shine. If more Chardonnay's were made this way than Chardonnay boredome would not exist. $20.

Sebastiani 2004 Chardonnay
You don't have to spend a great deal of money to drink a good Chardonnay. Every once in a while I taste a Chardonnay that makes me stop and shout, "Yes!" This is one of those wines. It offers an exotic nose of pineapples, lime, and crème brulee. Don't think this is going to be a wine without structure. The wine delivers a mouthfeel that is succulent, but with a bright acidity. This is a gorgeous wine for $10.

Ferrari Carano 2004 Chardonnay
The phrase "more than the sum of its parts" can be a cliché, but in this case it is true. This wine is a blend of over 60 invididual wines. It offers incredible fruit with green apples and pears leading the flavors. It has a round mouthfeel and a balanced finish. It has a fine complex character for $28.