Chateau Montelena Napa Chardonnay and Gary Farrell Durell Vineyard Sonoma County Chardonnay are two wines named among 15 bottles in the $50-100 range that are worth splurging on. For the 2020 Napa Chardonnay from Montelena, author Brian Freedman writes, “Taut and with tons of promise for the future, this citrus- and mineral-driven Chardonnay is already a vibrant treat. Incisive flavors of hard apples mingle with white tea, chamomile, lemon, passionfruit, and white cardamom, and it all finishes with a lingering whiff of dried springtime flowers. In a difficult year, Bo Barrett, Matt Crafton, and their team have produced a wine of real beauty.” For the 2020 from Gary Farrell, he writes “Mature and energetic, with nuance and brightness to spare, this is showing its vineyard pedigree very well. Lemon-based acidity is joined by dried apricots, mashed almonds, fennel bulb, a hint of woodsy spice, and a finish of marzipan, and honey-coated sesame seeds.” Both of these wines are worth seeking out!
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