The 2009 Chardonnay Conner Lee Vineyard was sourced from one of eastern Washington’s finest sites for this varietal. The wine was 100% barrel-fermented and aged for 12 months in a mix of new and used oak. Buttered popcorn, poached pear, spiced apple, and tropical aromas lead to a ripe, spicy, smooth-textured wine that will drink well for another 3-4 years. It, too, is an outstanding value. If I were forced to name a single Washington winery offering the best value across the entire range of their portfolio, it might well be Arbor Crest. I made that statement one year ago and these new releases only reinforce my view.Tel. (509) 927-9463; www.arborcrest.com

A soft, silky scent to open, weaving a tapestry of floral, musk, lemon polish and apple notes. The wine has excellent concentration, a dense midpalate bringing vanilla cream and banana and other tropical fruit flavors to the front. Powerful, with a hint of volatility.——P.G.(2/1/2011)—— 90