Light yellow. Nectarine, honey and white flowers on the pungent nose. Broad and fleshy but dry, with focused orchard and pit fruit flavors and complicating notes of anise and mace. Packs a solid punch but shows very good structure, finishing spicy and long, with a lingering note of dried fig. Nicely balanced, with no excess fat.

The 2011 Prelude Vineyards Chardonnay offers tropical fruit aromas of mango, guava and pineapple with toasty and mealy hints. Medium to full-bodied and possessing a lovely, creamy texture and crisp acid line that cuts through the tropical fruit flavors, it finishes long. Drink it now to 2016. (LPB)