Cellar defender alert!
I'm very excited for today's offer: a California sunshine-style-meets-Chablis Chardonnay that will tickle the palate of the most discerning Chardonnay consumers.
The last decade or so has seen a host of small Central Coast wineries and winemakers shoot for a crisper style of Chardonnay with increasing success. I always keep my eye out, but its probably been about 10-15 years since I was able to purchase a Central Coast Chardonnay in this style; if I remember correctly the last one was produced by a winery in Santa Cruz Mountains from the sandy loam and limestone of Los Alamos Vineyard and raised in a combo of neutral barrel and stainless steel.
Lot 418 fits right in that mold - beautifully weaving together the citrus and river stones of Santa Maria and the tropical fruit of Arroyo Seco over a starburst of minerality.
The Santa Maria portion is fermented in all stainless steel, the Arroyo Seco is 100% barrel fermented (roughly 30% new, mostly French, little American) resulting in a lovely wine, crisp and elegant with incredible, mouthwatering acidity and wonderful, tropical-kissed fruit nicely framed with a hint of creamy oak.
Fans of Chardonnay with a cooler-climate sensibility will find this a wonderful wine on its own as well as a particularly fine accompaniment to food.
And guess what? It's harvest time! Of course, I got this wine for a song 😉, and I'm passing the savings along to you!
The winery, located just outside of San Luis Obispo, offers this wine through their tasting room for $25/bottle. Today, however, we have a screaming deal for you...just $13/bottle!
...and the wait won't be long to enjoy it as this is bottling shortly and should be coming around beautifully for your Thanksgiving table with a little decant; it should be singing by Christmas.
Decent amount to go around too, so folks, I'd say it's time to...
BACK UP THE TRUCK!
Pretty and uplifted on the nose with lemon curd, citrus blossoms, and pineapple haloed by river stones. Tropical on entry with vibrant acidity, further lemon weaves into star fruit and yellow apple spread well across great weight leading into a fresh finish with uplifted citrus tones shifting to mango on exit. Lower on the alcohol spectrum at 13.3% it showcases clean, mouthwatering, fresh, and further sip-demanding approachability. This Cellar Defender will be an excellent accompaniment to weekday meals, or enjoyed solo anytime, cellar temp down to fully chilled.
13.3% alc.
