Sonoma-Loeb, Chardonnay Private Reserve, Sonoma County

Intensely aromatic and smokey, the Sonoma-Loeb, Chardonnay Private Reserve, Sonoma County has good fundamentals but is slightly off-key. Straw yellow with a green hue, it hints at a brighter acidity that it carries. Smokey and a bit oaky, the nose has undertones of ripe melon and apricot, followed by a rich attack, dense yellow fruits, a creamy mouth feel and a slight bitterness. The finish is long and rich. Is the wine over-oaked, or are the barrels over-toasted? Either way this rich grape juice is slightly marred by the barrel aging. Score 14/20.