2017 Estate Chardonnay - Dierberg Vineyard

Crushed yellow apple, ground cinnamon, green mango. Salted Meyer lemon, fresh honeysuckle, pineapple slice. Ripe yet energetic vibrations of citrus zest, Bartlett pear, and Mirabelle plum spearhead a round yet driving attack intricately complicated by hints of pie crust, sawdust, and cream. Delicate wafts of vanilla and clove provide aromas of clean baking spice that still allow for terroir-focused reflections of ocean froth, marine air, and sandy earth to shine. Subtle tones of jasmine emerge to impart a layer of delicate floral perfume while notes of custard, banana bread, and cheese rind expose underlying leesy and oaky decadence. Noticeably forward and expressive on the nose while remaining fresh, tart, and energetic on the palate; exhibiting exciting tension and restraint alongside delicious barrel-aged and sunshine-filled ripeness. Medium in body yet broad on the palate while supported by a radiant vein of acidity. This 2017 Dierberg Vineyard Estate Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay is a bright, balanced, and bodacious white from Santa Barbara County.

Santa Barbara County's Santa Maria Valley is one of California's coldest and most marine-influenced winegrowing appellations, and yet despite the daily impact of cool fog and ocean winds this region's exceptionally long growing season allows for wine grapes to fully ripen while retaining outstanding freshness and verve. This bottling, crafted by Dierberg Vineyards using Chardonnay sourced from their eponymous estate vineyard in the Santa Maria Valley, provides an outstanding glimpse into the strengths of this epic Santa Barbara County terroir. This wine possesses excellent concentration and purity of fruit while remaining exceptionally energetic and nervy, and its discernable usage of oak and lees stirring integrates perfectly with its unquestionably fantastic acidity. This showcases an incredible marriage of classic and modern California Chardonnay styles in a presentation that is hard not to love. Excellent.