With its upfront fruit flavors seasoned by a little spice and a touch of oak this is an unusually pleasing Chardonnay. It has enough moxie to provide partnership for a variety of foods well beyond the usual light-seafood-or-chicken-breast category too often suggested for Chardonnay. Try it with veal piccata or schnitzel, for example, or with seafood gumbo. And I can tell you from recent experience that the single glassful leftover from a dinner party the day before was a lovely accompaniment to a simple cheese omelet.
Chappellet, Carneros (California) Chardonnay 2017
By Marguerite Thomas