Out to dinner last night with a visiting speaker who expressed a desire
for a Chardonnay, we settled on a bottle of the 2005 Drouhin St. Veran,
conveniently priced that night at the restaurant for $11.50 (normally $23)

nose: initially, some buttery notes, later turning to lemons and a hint
of apples
palate: initially, soft and buttery, but after 10 minutes, the wine got
crisper and more delineated with lemony flavors emerging; medium body
with a fairly crisp finish

Overall, a very nice effort from Drouhin, especially considering the
price. This is not a wine for the long haul, but it'll probably drink
well for the next 1-2 years. The speaker, who had mostly had CalChards,
liked the wine quite a bit.

Mark Lipton