Man O' War Valhalla Chardonnay 2018

The 2017 Valhalla was fermented and aged in 500-liter puncheons, leaving it with scents of smoke and struck match on the nose. Peach, pear and pineapple fruit appear on the medium to full-bodied palate, which then turns dry and chalky on the finish. It's not the winery's strongest vintage for this wine, which winemaker and CEO Duncan McTavish admits was "a particularly wet vintage," but it's still a wine well worth drinking.

Tasted Feb 2016 - Some reductive smoky notes, white fruit, ripe citrus. Good, typical Chardonnay. Lots of texture here. (RH)

(aged for 11 months in 25% new French, then another 6 in tank; no malo): Pale, bright, green-tinged yellow. Ripe pear, guava and crunchy stone fruits on the nose. Then fat and sweet on the palate, conveying a glyceral richness to the flavors of ripe peach and nectarine, with a touch of well-judged spicy oak in the background. The winery does not do any batonnage but this wine spends a long time on its lees. Fine-grained, youthful Chardonnay with solid acid support. CEO Duncan McTavish referred to 2014 as "a benign year" but noted that some wines from this vintage can be a bit one-dimensional. -- Stephen Tanzer

March 2015 - Attractive complexity with a nicely judged reductive edge, the fruits sit around nectarine, peach and grapefruit citrus; oak adds nutty elements, plus there's a little honey and spice. The palate's smooth and even, acidity sits at the core. Classic bold chardonnay with hazelnuts and peachy flavors; holds long, with a gently glazed finish. Drink now.