Interesting wine. Golden straw color and slightly cloudy. The wine reminded me of buttered popcorn, almost verging on caramel corn. Finishes with some pineapple, a little vanilla and a healthy dose of wood.

Like I said, interesting; not your typical chardonnay. Worth $50? Not in my book.

Kistlers Russian Valley Chard is the only CA chard I have tried.(some four years ago)

Is there a great differance in A) quality and B) Price?

I just had this at Syrah restaurant in Santa Rosa three days ago ($75 on the wine list). I agree with your tasting notes, gave it 90 points. It didn't have the concentration of the Kistler Dutton or Durrell bottlings, or any other Kistler designated bottlings, for that matter. A nice wine, but overpriced. I had the 2000 regular Sonoma Coast bottling from Hartford the next day, and thought it was as good, at half the price.