Speizer 2010 Chardonnay No Oak Edna Valley 

This is the first release of this new brand from winemaker Terry Speizer, who founded Domaine Alfred in Edna Valley, and it’s exactly what I love in Chardonnay. Speizer planted a new vineyard in Edna Valley and created his second namesake brand. Fruit forward with no barrel aging, it offers pretty notes of green apple, spicy pear, and minerals, with bright notes of lemon and honeysuckle. An excellent choice for the holiday season, it’s delicious as an aperitif and a lovely complement to rich shellfish such as lobster, Dungeness crab, and cheesy appetizers. It’s available at Tastes of the Valleys Pismo for $18.45 retail, where you can also buy it by the taste or glass.