Baileyana 2008 Chardonnay Grand Firepeak Cuvée (GFC) 

An excellent buy for premium Chardonnay, this pretty white opens with an array of fragrant fruit and spice aromas. It’s rich and layered with flavors of spicy apple, pear, honey, and spices, nicely nuanced by zingy notes of citrus and minerals. It’s the type of white I love with grilled tuna, Dungeness or King crab, and lobster dishes. It also pairs well with prawn salad Louie style. Winemaker Christian Roguenant blends small lots of Chardonnay separately to create this special blend that’s labeled GFC. Although it’s quite delicious now, it will improve with five years cellaring. A very good buy at $28 retail compared to its peers, it’s available at Baileyana/Tangent’s old schoolhouse tasting room in Edna Valley on Orcutt Road.