The acidity isn’t high, but it’s high enough to keep the wine from being flabby (acidity is like a gym membership for white wine – helps them appear a little leaner and meaner, but doesn’t get in the way of building a little muscle weight. There’s a creamy, nutty quality, but it isn’t so sweet that it turns to caramel.

And best of all, it tastes like it would cost upwards of $30, but will only run you half that!

If you gave up on California chard a while ago because you found it very hum-drum or ho-hum, I recommend: A) coming up with some new descriptors that don’t employ the word “hum,” and; B) giving Sebastiani a shot. Send me a note once you’re sold and I’ll shoot you the link to the Walk of Fame petition.

Cheers,
TSW

* - Chimp Wine is a WoW designation signifying a no-brainer, must-buy wine (as in, "You'd have to be a chimp not to buy this wine.").

Like a woman in a Renoir painting, this voluptuous white is big, fat and gorgeous. But, it’s so positively Californian that it could be a man dressed like a woman from a Renoir painting for a West Hollywood drag queen revue celebrating the classics.

Either way, this is classic California chard. For all the flack people give the style for being simple, oaky, butter bombs, when done right it’s fantastic.

When done right and sold at around $10, it’s worthy of its own star on the Walk of Fame.

Let’s start the petition to get Sebastiani a star toot-sweet.

Yes, this chardonnay is oaky and buttery and full of vanilla, pear and a little tropical fruit flavor. That’s a given. It’s the balance all these elements have within the wine that’s striking.