Robert Lloyd Chardonnays: 2015 Prescription Chardonnay and 2016 Lloyd Carneros Chardonnay Review

2015 Prescription Chardonnay Clarksburg, CA ($20) Rob Lloyd (Loyd Cellars, also worked at La Crema, Rombauer) makes this wine from a vineyard in Clarksburg (near Lodi in the Central Valley / Delta neighborhood) owned by James Reamer. It's a bombastic, fruit-driven Chardonnay with exotic papaya, apricot, nectarine, and citrus flavors, good body, and tons of flavor. It's also unoaked, so it doesn't have those toast and vanilla notes that would just be 'piling on' if they were there. It may have just a bit of residual sugar, but it's not sweet, just a legit fruitbomb. It reminds me a bit of Newton's 'Unfiltered' Napa Valley Chardonnay. I personally prefer a leaner, racier style, but I can see a lot of people appreciating this white, and some will absolutely love it. 88 Points

2016 Lloyd Chardonnay Carneros ($40) This one is a little more by-the-book in style, a little more restrained, and probably more sophisticated by most measures. It's very fine quality with fuji apple, apricot and white peach fruit notes, well-integrated, creamy oak, plenty of flavor and a mellow, balanced finish. It's very much a Chardonnay for California Chardonnay lovers - sunny and generous, but it also is subtle and balanced. It won't dissapoint. 91 Points