I tried the Beringer 2006 Private Reserve Napa Valley Chardonnay last time, and I found that wine not good on many different levels, but a true oenophile would still see if the next thing up their ladder did them justice... the only thing that I can say is that it did not.

The first time that I tried this, the bottle was cooked; spoiled, rotten, just rank. I had two other people try it and they are the ones that clued me in; Actually, stupid me should have known it all along, but that's why I like second opinions.

The color of this wine is a nice grade of a golden yellow reminiscent of a dark straw color.

The taste it both woody (reminded me of slightly charred oak, and very vegetal; you can translate this as grassy). It has an overpowering smoky component as well, which makes me wonder if this wine was on it's way to being bad, or whether or not the winemaker went for this. This is not necessarily a bad taste, but it is something that deserves some respect and with the extremely long finish on this wine, I would say that it is really devoid of fruity aspects, but it should be noted that not all wines have fruity aspects.

As I just received a phone call and was on the phone for at least five minutes, I have observed the texture of this wine as represented by what people call its 'legs.' This wine is an Amazon! It was still drifting it's dregs back into the bottom of the glass and had a good two minutes left in it's journey.

I am going to relent and give this wine a 10. It's not my ideal type of Chardonnay, but I am respecting it fully.

I might also add that the alcohol content on this wine will definitely make you savor it for it's depth; it's not some namby-pamby average release. Good show Sbragia!