Chardonnay from Santa Maria Valley in California. A golden colour in the glass, with flashes of lime green to the edges. The scent is exhuberant, with barrel spices of vanilla, toasted baguette and caramel. Lemon, quince, cashew, peach and melon flavours present themselves abundantly too. Ripe, concentrated and power-packed, this is not a shy expression of Chardonnay. Looking past the toasty oak, the stony minerality and phenolics that lie mid-palate lift the style from blowsy into something much more complex. A real tickle of fruit tannin contrasts well with a creamy texture – playing off each other and adding interest. The finish is quite sweet, but has good persistence. 94pts
Au Bon Climat Chardonnay 2015
