Gainey’s basic Santa Rita Chardonnay is a fine wine, dry, crisp and minerally, and this is a good price for it. It shows a nice melange of oak influences with peach, pear and pineapple fruit flavors.——S.H.(7/1/2011)—— 88

A good wine, comprised of fruit from vineyards scattered across Santa Barbara County. It’s bone dry and crisp in acidity, and also pretty oaky. The underlying fruit flavors are of apricots and pears, with perhaps a touch of botrytis. Ready to drink now. ——S.H.(12/1/2010)—— 86

A beautiful Chardonnay, solidly in the Gainey style of balance and integrity, but also showing the cool climate terroir of its origins as well as the excellence of the vintage. The result is this crisp, richly oaked but balanced young wine. It brims with tropical fruits and spices.——S.H.(5/1/2009)—— 92

A nice, dry Chard, a bit on the earthy, tobaccoey side, with pleasantly acidic mineral flavors and hints of lemons, limes and pineapples.——S.H.(7/1/2008)—— 87

Wow, what a good value. This is a Chard that shows tremendous authority and power, not to mention that cool-climate character of Santa Rita Hills. Bursts with bright Meyer lemondrop, Key-lime pie, vanilla custard and smoky oak aromas, with similar flavors that are heightened by crisp, clean acidity.——S.H.(7/1/2007)—— 90