Klein Constantia: stellar whites, sweet and dry 
Marqués de Riscal: Gehry hotel outshining solid Rioja and Rueda 
La Rioja Alta: benchmark classical Riojas especially top flight Gran Reservas 
Marqués de Murrieta: Rioja aristocracy built around Castillo Ygay 
CVNE: Combining volume and classical quality 
Contino: Château-style Rioja and Graciano pioneers 
£3-4; ??%
Second of 3 1997 US Chardonnays from Majestic’s “parcel”. This “Napa County Chardonnay” was quite different from the Oceana style, but still excellent VFM. Style much fresher – more Chablis style. A fresh opening with citrussy, lemony notes, but rounded with melon showing through. On sitting, the warm-climate influence comes through and the lemon aromas develop into lemon pie or even lemon meringue pie as vanilla and butter / caramel notes emerge. Light yellow colour and a fresh lemony flavour. Balanced and quite long.
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