The 2001 Yarden Chardonnay exhibits ripe pear, pineapple and apple fruit notes layered with rich oak and hints of butterscotch. This is a full-bodied, complex wine with a long, attractive finish. Yarden Chardonnay improves with a bit of age and drinks well for five to seven years following the vintage. We enjoy this wine with fairly rich foods such as smoked squab, duck confit or even Risotto Milanese.

Yarden Chardonnay is 100% varietal, coming from vineyards in the cool northern part of the Golan Heights, at altitudes of up to close to 4,000 feet (1,200 meters) in elevation. This area consistently produces outstanding fruit. The wine ferments and ages sur lies in small French oak barrels for seven months. About half of the barrels are new.