The 2009 Chardonnay Talley Rincon comes across as rather understated and reserved. It is a gorgeous, polished wine that impresses for its length and overall balance. Ripe fruit, minerals and highly nuanced aromatics linger on the finish. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2014. I tasted a wide range of wines from Tantara, including a whopping 12 different Pinots. I can certainly understand the appeal of vinifying small lots of fruit from a large number of top sites in the Central Coast, but it must be a huge challenge to properly supervise the growing of fruit in sites that run from Arroyo Grande to the Santa Lucia Highlands. These 2009 Pinots suggest a little more focus on fewer appellations might not be a bad thing.Tel. (805) 938-5051; Fax (805) 938-0036; tantarawinery.com

Very rich and ripe, showing pineapple tart and oak-infused vanilla, meringue and buttered toast aromas and flavors. A bit lacking in structure, though, with a soft, melted mouthfeel. Could be firmer and crisper to balance all that decadence.——S.H.(8/1/2010)—— 87

Massively rich, with pronounced, sweet, smoky oak flavors and a rich vein of tart, creamy lees highlighting the underlying fruity ripeness. Shows flavors of grilled pineapples, tropical mangoes and pears, balanced with crisp acids. Tremendously delicious and compelling.——S.H.(8/1/2010)—— 95

My favorite Tantara white is the light gold-colored 2005 Chardonnay Talley-Rincon Vineyard. Exhibiting the most complete mouthfeel, it reveals medium to full body along with good acidity, and hints of orange, lemon butter, and subtle oak in a restrained, but substantial format. Consume it over the next 3-4 years. Tel. (805) 938-5051; Fax (805) 938-0036

The monolithic, straightforward, light to medium gold-tinged 2003 Chardonnay Talley-Rincon Vineyard offers hints of butterscotch and caramel as well as dry wood tannin in the finish. A solid effort, it should be consumed over the next 1-2 years. Tel. (805) 938-5050