Absolutely fantastic Chardonnay. This is textbook Oaked Chardonnay. Balanced fruit and acidity and very calm on the palate. HOP has a great track record of consistent wine making and this chard continues that legacy at a terrific price.

HoP has been a reliable and consistent producer for many years, but for me, this chardonnay doesn't quite hit the mark. There is abundant and attractive fruit, but the amount of oak present shifts the wine out of balance in my view, and makes it hard to match with food... smoked fish, perhaps?
July 2016 update: a second bottle was smoother, richer, and far less woody, so I have upped my rating. I think the excessive woodiness I found previously was due to the bottle being somewhat corked. Now my only gripe is that HoP didn't use screwcap closure for this wine!