2003 Joseph Drouhin St. Véran (Burgundy Chardonnay)

Just misses being really special -- but pretty good anyway! Lots of pear extract, ripe apple, stone, and straw aromas. Full, ripe mouthfeel on entry, but then fades, with drier, minerally flavors taking over, and the pears sleeping in the back seat. Fairly long finish with the pears rallying. With a tad more ripeness and concentration in the mid-palate, this wine would have been really nice. 86. $13.99 at Cost Plus on Richmond.