Petaluma Chardonnay, 2003

This is one of Australia's better Chardonnays, with a personality that tends to showcase fruit rather than oak. It's a deep gold color, showing full maturity but with well preserved fruit qualities. Deep peach and guava aromas and flavors that are on the sweet side but with enough limey acidity to keep you coming back for more. The personality, though, comes mostly from a spicy clove and cinnamon quality that reminds me a bit of Belvedere Alexander Valley Chardonnays and some Saint Verans from France.