Out to dinner last night with a visiting speaker who expressed a desire for a Chardonnay, we settled on a bottle of the 2005 Drouhin St. Veran, conveniently priced that night at the restaurant for $11.50 (normally $23)
nose: initially, some buttery notes, later turning to lemons and a hint of apples palate: initially, soft and buttery, but after 10 minutes, the wine got crisper and more delineated with lemony flavors emerging; medium body with a fairly crisp finish
Overall, a very nice effort from Drouhin, especially considering the price. This is not a wine for the long haul, but it'll probably drink well for the next 1-2 years. The speaker, who had mostly had CalChards, liked the wine quite a bit.
Mark Lipton