This chardonnay reflects Jim's Clendenen ideal: superb concentration without over-ripening . . . low alcohol with strength and persistence. A special bottling that celebrates the terroir of the Clendenen family's "Le Bon Climat" vineyard. 90 points Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine: "At first, the very toasty, roasted nut scents of this initially reluctant bottling effort convey the impression of a wine that is overly tight and a little lacking in fruit, but, when given a chance to unfold in the glass, it finds more and more juicy, apple-like qualities coming to the fore. Solid, quite firm in feel and surprisingly long at the finish, it is not only a wine that is capable of aging for several years; it is arguably the unusual Chardonnay that demands it." (10/07)