2009 Tor Torchiana Beresini Vineyard Napa Valley Chardonnay ( 94 Points Wine Spectator)

This white is impressive for its delicacy and finesse, with a subtle development of complex flavors built around smoky oak, creamy fig, pear and melon. Deftly balanced and layered, gaining on the finish. Drink now through 2016. 160 cases made. –JL

The Torchina might be the most popular Chardonnay that the winery makes. It tends to be the most overtly rich and dense of the Chardonnays and this year follows in that trend. This vintage of Torchiana shows more focus than in previous vintages but does not lose any of the expected richness and density. The nose on this is sea spray-saline, almost Chablis like quality. On the palate it is incredibly focused and precise. If you can picture Chablis in a ripe year and add in some California richness this is what you get with the ’09 Torchiana. This might be the wine of the three 2009 Chardonnays to lie down in the cellar and come back to in a couple years to wow your friends.