Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Chardonnay Napa Valley Arcadia Vineyard 2007

Apple sauce, peach purée, buttercream, vanilla and cinnamon spice flavors characterize this tasty Napa Chard. It has a scour of refreshing acidity and a long, pleasant, fairly complex finish.

There's something Chablisian about this Chardonnay. It's partly the acidity, which is high, and partly the gunmetal minerality, courtesy of another cool vintage in the southern Napa/Carneros region where the grapes were grown. Add in oak-infused pineapples, peaches and pears, and you have a fairly significant wine that could even benefit from some years in the cellar.

Richly toasted oak influences run through this wine in cereal and spice tones of toasted grain and nutmeg. For a veal stew.

A gorgeous bouquet of green apple, pear, and citrus fruits mingles with notes of jasmine, honeysuckle, and warm pie crust. These inviting aromas lead to flavors of gingered pears, vanilla cream, and citrus zest that lightly lingers to a satisfying finish.

A fine job; this Chardonnay emphasizes structure and food compatibility rather than fruity extraction. There's good apple and peach flavor, bright acidity, enough oak to season and a sprinkling of dusty tannin.

Lush and complex. Fruity flavors range from fresh green apples to spicy ripe pears. The oak is fine and smoky, while barrel fermentation and lees aging help craft a creamy texture. The finish is long and rich.

RP: 89 Points WS: 86 Points