April 1, 2008 - Forgot about this wine. Still drinking very well for a lower budget Chard. Actually very smooth and varietally correct with just a slight hint of oak. Hint of butter with some tropical fruits and a nice creamy finish. This wine seems fairly consistent and a super weekday quaffer at less than $15. Lasted a lot longer in cellar than originally planned.
December 30, 2007 - Very good for a chardonnay past its prime.
December 13, 2007 - Very nice, fruit and oak but not heavy
October 30, 2007 - This wasn't too bad---I guess I didn't have the negative experience others had with this. It was typical Sonoma--a bit of oak, citrus and vanilla. Not buttery or overly oaked. By now, this one should have a nice, middle of the road, creamy mouthfeel. I liked it. It wasn't my favorite, but it went well with my dinner--turkey and veggies.
December 29, 2006 - My nose for chardonnay must be off... I definitely perceived some caramelly, toasty oak in this wine... more french oak than american and not as "rough" or overbearing as some cali chards can be. And I found the flavors to be more apple and pear with notes of citrus, nuts and spice. Nicely balanced. Not overly complex. Just enough bite to offset the malo. Great for a dinner party where you need to complement a range of food. 85-ish point wise.
December 20, 2006 - I agree with previous observations. Melon flavor, minimal oak but that is more what I enjoy in a Chardonnay today. I am sick of the heavy oak trying to compete with a cab.
August 21, 2006 - Nasty stink. Probably H2S (sulfide) problem.
August 16, 2006 - Let me start out by saying that I like a nice heavily-oaked Chardonnay with that buttery vanillin flavor/feel. That said, I am not a fan of the newer-styled less oaked Chards that are in the marked these days. I had high hopes for the Simi as it is an older winery and mentioned the use of oak on the label. The aforementioned reviews are more correct. It is a more fruity melon-like chard, nice chilled, but not to my taste.
May 13, 2006 - I have to agree with the previous review. It was a nice wine for a hot day on the porch swing, but there wasn't much else too it.
December 6, 2005 - This Chardonnay is more like a cross between a Sauvignon Blanc and a Chardonnay. It's more tart and melon-y than most Chardonnays and is very lightly oaked. It's a nice wine, but I like more body in my Chardonnay.