When I drink white wine, California Chardonnay is a frequent choice. I like the full-bodied foundation and the varied fruit flavors as well as the buttery oaky notes on the finish. It has a satisfying bold taste that's not at all sweet yet never seems too dry or overly acidic. Let me introduce you to one of my favorites that is now on sale: Harken Barrel Fermented Chardonnay. It is from the Central Coast wine region of California where the grapes are sourced from small, family-owned, sustainable vineyards. As the name implies, the grapes are 100% barrel fermented and undergo a full malolactic treatment that turns citrus acid into a smoother, creamier lactic acid. From there, the wine is aged for seven months in American and French oak barrels. All this fine-tuned winemaking leads to a finished wine that shows a toasty, nutty, vanilla-driven richness that's very likeable for this style of Chardonnay. Flavors run from apple and pear to tropical mango and pineapple. The acid is well balanced, and the texture is smooth and refreshing. I recently had this paired with pan-fried halibut… delicious! Roasted or rotisserie chicken is another good dinner match. Surdyk's Fall Sale offers this wine at a real bargain price for the quality in the bottle. -Bill McCleary, Consultant