Markham Napa Valley Chardonnay 2013: Light yellow color; honeysuckle, citrus, apple on light nose;
fresh, zippy with citrus, apple, melon, pear on the palate. Very nice easy drinker that thoughtfully avoids serious butter and oak; there is some oak edges and flirtation with light butter, but it does not mask nice acidity and minerality; crisp lemons on the finish; creamy texture emerges as wine relaxes in air, but I like the zingy acidity found at the beginning. One of the first Napa Valley pioneers, Markham vineyards date back to Jean Laurent winery in 1874; the present-day winery still uses the stone cellar built in 1879. Bruce Markam revitalized the winery in 1978, has modernized the winery every since, consistently wins awards, and is Napa Green certified for both the land and the winery—which includes fish-friendly farming, extensive water conservation efforts on the land and in the winery, even a long-standing policy that encourages ride sharing by employees. Furthermore, this has been Markham value for decades, not just a recent “jump on the green bandwagon” marketing effort. Very nice chard, responsible maker, and—again—I really like the crisp, fresh, sharpness this pour achieves. $17-22 