Handley - Anderson Valley Chardonnay - Estate Grown - 2002

As a lover of chards, I decided to buy this bottle as part of my stock-up visits to my local liquor store. It looked interesting if unassuming, and the price was in my preferred range. We opened it with dinner (November's 3RD). Not your typical chard.

It had an exceptionally strong nose...almost overpowering. And it was strong on alcohol and low on flavor. Again not typical of the chards I've come to know and love. Letting it breathe for a while made it drinkable, but still strong up front with a weak finish. Not my favorite chard in the least. Not terrible, just not quite what I want out of a chard.

Handley, Anderson Valley Chardonnay, Estate Grown, 2002. Produced and bottled by Handley Cellars, Philo, California. www.handleycellars.com