The Chalone Vineyard Estate Pinot Blanc 1993 (13.9% alcohol by volume) was bought by me shortly after it became available. I have stored it properly, and there were no cork or other issues.
The wine is fairly light, bright yellow. It has smoothed with age in a way much like a top white Bordeaux. There is some waxy character, some herbs and spice, and some stone character in bouquet and taste. The wine is very well balanced and fairly full. It was not cheap, but you could pay much more for a not-as-good cult Chardonnay in the mid
1990s.The fact that this wine is still drinking well is no fluke. I have had bottles from several other older vintages that still were good to outstanding. With delicate fish and shellfish, many might like a Chablis or trocken Riesling from the Saar or Austria better. But for more elaborate dishes such as lobster in rich sauces or very young veal, this Pinot Blanc might be a good match.