Fairly intense and flavorful, this Chard expresses assertive aromas and flavors of wood-grilled peaches, buttercream frosting, lemon custard and toasted brioche. Medium weight in the mouth with good balance and a touch of baking spice on the close.——L.B.(3/1/2012)—— 89

Cloves, butterscotch and slightly candied fruit aromas begin this playful Chardonnay from Jardin. On the palate, fresh, balanced flavors of fruit and citrus spice give the wine heft. Pair with grilled fish, scallops.——S.K.(6/1/2009)—— 85

Massive quantities of spices are found in the ripe aromatics of the 2003 Chardonnay Nine Yards. Produced from 15-year old vines, this offering was aged on its lees for a year and instead of batonnage, a process in which a stirring tool is inserted into each cask, this wine’s barrels were regularly rolled around the cellar to maximize lees contact. The result is a medium to full-bodied effort with loads of richness and breadth. Sweet pears and candied apples are intermingled with creamy spices in its ample, concentrated, and seamless character. One of the finest South African Chardonnays I’ve tasted to date, it is a candidate for drinking over the next 3-4 years. Importer: Vinnovative Imports, Charlotte, NC; tel. (704) 489-9463