Beaulieu Vineyard Reserve Chardonnay (Carneros) 2001

One of the classic ?Big 4? of old Napa, BV is now a giant operation in its own right but also part of a vast corporate empire. The quality of the wines varies widely. In general, the regionally-designated wines (e.g., Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon) and the Reserves are the wines for which anybody but the most budget-conscious consumer should look. The 2001 Reserve Chardonnay is sourced from vineyards in the Napa Valley side of the Carneros region. (Trivia: I believe Carneros is still the only AVA to straddle two counties; in this case, it lies in both Napa and Sonoma counties.) Pleasant and very quaffable, but not terribly complex. A good base of vanilla and toasty oak supports a structure of clean fruit flavors. Pears, apples, and honey are the dominant flavor impressions. Good food wine. Grade: B