It's hard to top the exquisite 2009 Reserve and as a reviewer it's hard not to hark back to it, but the difference between the two vintages is night and day, so you'd expect the wines to have that same kind of difference - which is credit to the winemaking team at Reif. The wines are so different from one another that no legitimate comparison can be made and thus the wine is taken completely on its own merit. The nose is buttery with vanilla and marzipan notes; the palate is apple, spice, buttery, vanilla and spiced on the finish. It's a little bit of a chubby Chardonnay which is still holding onto the baby fat of being young - it certainly does not have the racy acidity of the 2009 - but it does have a fair amount to keep it a clean finish. Price: $21.95 - Rating: *** 1/2+