2010 Pip Sonoma Coast Chardonnay Half Case

Tastes like: Pear, citrus and lemon curd
Pairs with: Grilled chicken, fresh salads
Good for: Barbecues
Drink this: Now
Alcohol: 13.4%

6 x 2010 Pip Sonoma Coast Chardonnay

Usually, "fresh" and "crisp" aren't the first words that come to mind when you think of California Chardonnays. Many of them tend to have the sort of weight that makes them right for food pairings, but not for sipping solo on a hot summer day. The Pip Chardonnay, however, is perfect for quaffing while you dip your feet in the pool. This delightful white has a bright, citrusy flavor that makes it the right match for light dishes and summer fun. The wine came to be when talented vintners Ellie Phipps Price and Chris Towt discovered an "orphaned" block of premium Chardonnay and decided to use some of those grapes in this new bottling. They called it Pip, after the orphan in Charles Dickens' Great Expectations. Even if you didn't catch the reference, expect great things from this wine. It's a lively, well-priced white that will have you holding out your glass for more.

—Punky Mahle

Punky Mahle has more than 15 years of experience in the wine and food industries, most recently with luxury resorts. Before joining Lot18 as a Napa/Sonoma Wine Specialist, Punky was a sommelier with The Phoenician in Scottsdale, Ariz., and the wine director for the Ritz Carlton in Phoenix. Punky currently lives, works and plays in Napa Valley. She’s thrilled to share her backyard with Lot18 members and be able to bring the region’s most exciting wines to the community. Learn more about Punky here, or follow her on Twitter: @punkytime