On appearance, this Chardonnay is the color of golden straw. The first nose delivers notes of vanilla and lemon zest. After a swirl, the deeper notes of honey, pear and quince become evident. On the palate, delicate flavors of lemon crame, white peach and pear progress into honeysuckle and butterscot Chateau

For a small portion of the blend, Winemaker François Cordesse used fruit that experienced some botrytis, or "noble rot", prized in France. One hundred percent of the blend went through malolactic fermentation, but careful vinification preserved freshness and prevented any heavy characteristics from developing.

Since 1977, Matanzas Creek Winery has been focused on creating balanced, elegant wines that are regarded as Sonoma County classics. Chardonnay has long been one of their signature varietals, and the 2006 vintage is a fine example of what can be achieved when artisan winemaking techniques are applied to the marvelous bounty of nature.