Toasted Head Russian River Chardonnay, 2005

I bought this wine on close-out last February for $6.59. It's fully mature, with some deep gold color, but the aromas and flavors are still hanging in there. The name gives this wine away as one that doesn't shy away from heavy oak treatment. It pulls all the stops in that regard and offers up scents of very ripe pears, lime, buttered apples and tropical fruits with a creamy mouthfeel. More appealing to me is the pronounced spicy element that I have found in a few other Russian River and Alexander Valley Chardonnays. Toasted Head has a lower end California appellation Chardonnay that sells for about $8, but this Russian River cuvee ordinarily sells for $15 to $20.