That mineral, flinty shot goes straight through the palate, too, as do apple, citrus and chalky pear flavors. So yes, it's crisp and bright, but somehow rich and ripe as well. At warmer than you usually drink chardonnay, yet not room temperature, it's lush and full. But it never loses its perfect balance, or its mineral flavors.

Morgan is the woman at the holiday party who's totally hot, and isn't wearing a next-to-nothin' dress to prove it. It's beauty, class and sex appeal together with a restraint that makes it all even sexier.

Just make sure you don't crank up the AC at your party if Morgan is a guest. She doesn't like being too cold. All you'll get from her is brightness and steel, and while that's not terrible, it's hardly all she has to offer*.

This is what a California chardonnay should be: full of character, balanced, representative of its region (if this white was any more Monterey it'd be an otter), great with food and not priced like a piece of furniture.

Cheers,
TSW

* - For more on why I'm just a little pedantic in my urging that we all take good white wines out of their Arctic tundra known as "refrigerator temperature," read the WoW Rant found here.

This time of year means parties and birds, but it's no party for the birds. The parties are usually dinner parties and the birds are usually dinner.

And given the menu, most party guests reach for a chardonnay to bring for the host. Chardonnay doesn't offend, and it goes well with turkey, goose, eagle, or whatever's being served.

The problem is, a night of chardonnay can get old fast. It can, but not if it's this chardonnay. If everyone invited to your next Christmas/Chanukah/Kwanzaa/Fillintheblank party brought a bottle of this chard, it'd be a night to be thankful for indeed!

I don't want to build this wine up too high, but you could invite Robin Williams, Oprah Winfrey and Desmond Tutu to your next shindig and Morgan would still be the life of the party.

The nose has crisp apple, citrus (lemon-lime and just a touch of grapefruit) and a wonderful steely/mineral quality.