Mia's Playground Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2008

Pouring a light blonde color, this Russian River Chardonnay has a velvety, tropical nose, full of banana leaves and Tahitian vanilla. Very expressive on the palate, flavors of custard and mango prevail with notes of pineapple, pear, and a touch of tangerine rounding out the experience. In the mid-palate, more nutty nuances come through, such as almonds and macadamia nuts, as well as a fleshy marshmallow quality. This complex, silky white wine finishes with just a hint of subtle woodiness, a result of the skillful integration of oak in the crafting of this wine. The complexity of this Chardonnay is an excellent blend of the classic Burgundian and Californian styles, and represents some of California's finest winemaking.

Summer seafood is a welcome pairing with this wine; try a grilled Chilean sea bass with a mango salsa. A fruit salad with heirloom peaches would be a nice accompaniment to the wine's zesty, underlying acidity, or an arugula and pecorino salad would make a light meal full of delicious, contrasting flavors.