Chateau St. Jean Belle Terre Vineyard Chardonnay, 2003

This is my last bottle of Chateau St. Jean Belle Terre, and my timing was right: the wine is still enjoyable but nearing the end of the line.

The color is a deep, mature gold, but the aromas are still lively--French oak, citrus and peach. On the palate, the wine has developed some rough edges, but it's rich and creamy with some fruit on the finish. A very oak-dominated Chardonnay, but the fruit is strong enough to maintain a sense of identity.

Chateau St. Jean's Belle Terre Chardonnay ordinarily sells for about $30 a bottle. I would not pay that much for it (or any other New World Chardonnay), but I found this bottle on close-out for less than half price, and it has been a useful wine for dishes like fish stew.