The 2008 Chardonnay El Novillero Vineyard offers hints of caramelized citrus, honeydew melons, nectarines, and pears. Cleanly made and medium to full-bodied with good acidity and a long finish, it, too, should age nicely for 3-4 years. Quietly and confidently, Bruce Neyers, the national sales representative for Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, has built his Conn Valley winery into a facility producing over 12,000 cases of wine.Tel. (707) 963-8840; Fax (707) 963-8894

The more limited production (600 cases) 2007 Chardonnay El Novillero Vineyard exhibits a distinctive smoky, hazelnut character intertwined with notes of orange marmalade/nectarine. The wine displays great ripeness, medium to full body, and beautiful acidity. It is a dead-ringer for a top-class premier cru Meursault. Consume it over the next 4-5 years. This is a reliably strong portfolio from Bruce Neyers, the national sales representative for Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant. His winemaker is Turley Cellar’s highly renowned Ehren Jordan.Phone: 707-963-8840; Fax: 707-963-8894

Leesy complexity is noticeable in the 2006 Chardonnay El Novillero Vineyard. This wine exhibits good acidity and much more minerality, with hints of pineapple, buttered citrus, brioche, and waxy notes. The wine is a superb Chardonnay, pure, medium to full-bodied, and I suspect capable of lasting 3-4 years. One would think Bruce Neyers has little time. After all, he is the full-time (or over-time) national sales representative for Kermit Lynch importing company. Yet Neyers also has an impressive portfolio of wines, some of which come from his own estate vineyards tucked away in the Conn Valley. His winemaker is none other than Turley Cellars’ highly respected Ehren Jordan. I thought this was the strongest line-up of wines Neyers has yet produced, although last year the tastings were nearly as good, so he seems to be on a roll. He has produced a very strong group of Chardonnays from a vintage that one has to be somewhat careful with given the problems with botrytis in many of the lower-lying vineyards. These are all pure, clean examples of Chardonnay.Phone: 707-963-8840; Fax: 707-963-8894

Cut from a similar mold as the Carneros with additional amounts of tropical fruit and brioche, the 2005 Chardonnay El Novillero Vineyard is an elegant, restrained white that builds incrementally in the mouth, and finishes with outstanding length as well as purity. It is a serious effort possessing more minerality than the Carneros cuvee. It was good to see longtime wine enthusiast, national sales rep for Kermit Lynch Importers, vineyard owner, and wine producer, Bruce Neyers, who has one of the most important palates on the West Coast. Neyers, who utilizes the services of Ehren Jordan of Turley Wine Cellars as his winemaker, has consistently turned out beautiful Chardonnays as well as fine Merlots, Zinfandels, and Syrahs. 2005 appears to be a fabulous vintage for Chardonnay as most exhibit intense aromatics, super purity of fruit, and surprising freshness for wines of such density and power.Tel. (707) 963-9940; Fax (707) 963-8894