Here we go again. Chateau des Charmes has created another whopper Chardonnay from a hot vintage. I was a fan of the 2007 and this follows right in it footsteps. The nose is what you'd expect from something Californian with lots of buttery, baked-apple and vanilla. The wine was only in barrel 6-7 months but it really took on the flavours of its oak home: rich, creamy vanilla and spiced apple ... Sure it's fat and creamy, but it also has a great backbone of acidity to keep it from being too heavy ... and that's no small feat. What's more it's priced well under what a Cali-Chard is gonna cost you. Price: $13.95 - Rating: ****+