2008 Melville "Estate-Verna's" Santa Barbara Chardonnay

91 points Robert Parker: "The 2008 Chardonnay Verna’s displays orange blossom, nectarine, and honeysuckle, with white peach notes. With zesty acidity and medium to full body, this is a juicy, clean, pure, and vibrant style of Chardonnay to drink over the next 3 or so years." (08/10) 91 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, Nov/Dec 09: "Vivid gold. Exotically perfumed, powerful scents of tangerine, toasty lees and lemon rind. Tangy but dense, with lush citrus and orchard fruit flavors and an exotic smoky quality (that smoke didn't come from new oak as this was raised in neutral wood). Finishes with strong citrus bite and a lingering note of dried flowers." A golden-green hue glistens brightly with opulent citrus elements of lemon peel and orange blossom. Other scents of yellow fruits such as cassava and pluot mix with decadent hints of magnolia, white cake batter, kettle corn and brown butter. A subtle hint of pebbles and pineapple basil flows in the background. On the palate the wine is rich and fleshes out these nuances more comprehensively giving it ample weight but remains vibrant and fresh.