2004 Merryvale Starmont Napa Chardonnay

We've had this wine many times before. The 2004 is pale straw in color with a slight hint of green. It smells of creamy vanilla and toast and tastes like a crisp green apple. At first it is tangy, salty and crisp, although eventually you can taste some of that California "tropical fruit." It's a relatively asthenic wine that cries out for food - shellfish in particular. The 2004 is just not as luxuriant as previous vintages. Starmont used to be an old standby for us, especially when it was consistently on sale for around $15 (available in some supermarkets for $16 to $20).