Woodward Canyon Chardonnay 1998

This wine was 100% barrel fermented in new (60%) and six month old barrels (40%) from Sirugue, Francois Freres, and Louis Latour. The wine shows beautiful flavors of ripe peach and nectarine with the acidity of a granny smith apple. Whole cluster pressing gave wonderfully rich fruit which integrates very nicely with vanilla, cream, and toasted hazelnut. The new oak is there but does not overwhelm.

This is another beautifully proportioned chardonnay from Woodward Canyon. While this wine may certainly be consumed now, it will improve greatly with a years in bottle. I recommend drinking this wine over the next two to four years or today for lunch.