2013 Pride Mountain Vineyards, “Vintner Select Cuvée,” Sonoma County ($50) – Medium-light golden yellow; attractive, buttery, green apple and tropical fruit aroma with a hint of lemon curd; medium-full body; rich, layered, buttery, pear, green apple, and pineapple flavors with firm acidity and some creaminess in the mouthfeel; lingering aftertaste. Very highly recommended. 14.2% alcohol; 353 cases; 100% Chardonnay; 100% BF; 100% ML; released January 2015. (Group Score: 16.3, 2/0/0; My Score: 17 [90/100], seventh place)

From Pride’s mountaintop estate vineyard, the 2013 Chardonnay Vintner’s Select enjoys partial malolactic as well. It is aged nine months in all French oak, but only 25% is new. This wine displays much more minerality than the Carneros bottling, offering wet stones interwoven with citrus oil, apple blossom and hints of white peach and pineapple. It is rich, medium to full-bodied and fresh, with the oak pushed way to the background.