Savvy wine buys: Heron ‘00 Chardonnay

Wednesday, April 10, 2002 | 8:21 a.m.

Winemaker Laely Heron traveled the world for years studying winemaking. She is mainly renowned for merlot, but her '99 chardonnay was rated a Best Buy in the Wine Spectator, and the early buzz is that her latest vintage is even better. This is a full-bodied, supple wine with lots of subtle fruit flavors, a clean-tasting wine nicely balanced with oak. The wine is a blend of grapes that have been barrel or stainless-steel fermented, so the oak doesn't overwhelm the fruit. It's a great buy at under $10 a bottle, and almost no other California chardonnay in this price category matches it.

Available at Lee's Discount Liquors, $9.99.

-- Max Jacobson

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