Savvy wine buy: Sanford '98 Barrel Select Chardonnay

Max Jacobson

This isn't a wine for those who are queasy about Chardonnay -- or oak -- but for those who like the style, it is a fine example of the genre. The wine is extremely ripe and intensely flavored, a powerfully concentrated wine done in a moderately complex style. It's a light golden color, and there are mild aromas of tropical fruits and vanilla in the nose, typically the result of new oak-barrel aging. Simply put, this is a great summer cooler, and the long finish makes it a good food wine as well.

Available at Spirits Plus and the Las Vegas Wine Company, $16.99.

archive