Produced from the cool vineyards at the southern tip of Africa, Hamilton Russell’s Chardonnays are world-class wines, fine examples of French winemaking in a South African context. This 2000 is one of the estate’s finest to date, a melange of lemon and nuts, mingled with smoky wood flavors, with a layer of acidity and structure that give it great aging ability. ——R.V.(7/1/2002)—— 92