Lot 384 comes to us from a vineyard located just south of the Monterey Pinnacles in a relatively (800-feet) high-elevation, west-east running alluvial wash. It's remote, so one would think it's hot as hell, but the elevation, west-east valley, cobble soils and King City winds and fog keep the yields low and the temps cool.
This wine is raised in a combo of American and French oak barrels, about 30% new, but the wine is half-fermented in tank and then finished in barrel so as not to overpower the fruit. Perfecto.
The producer sells this wine out of their tasting room for $25/bottle (the '21 was awarded 92-points from James Suckling) but, today, the '22 vintage is yours for just $13/bottle!
Golden hued in the glass with a vivacious bouquet of honeydew melon and toasted vanilla enveloped in white flower, mandarin orange and mineral perfume. Complex and lovely, like spring in a glass, with very good integration of fruit and wood already, the palate shines even further with a viscous, rich entry and juicy, delicious mid-palate amply supported on citrusy minerality that drives a long, fresh finish with a great mix of rich, oak-elevated fruit and structure. Rich, complex, and balanced, this is an incredible Chardonnay for the price!
13.7% alc.
