Across the Northern Hemisphere the 2018 vintage harvest is largely coming to an end. It was a late harvest for most folks in California, but the weather largely cooperated throughout the growing season and the final quality of fruit appears sublime. Expect 2018 vintage wines across the Golden State to show well especially thanks to warm and consistent fall weather, which allowed an unhurried harvest to take place at optimal levels of ripeness for each varietal.

Pictured here is Chardonnay from the Radian Vineyard located on the far western edge of the Santa Rita Hills appellation of Santa Barbara California. Radian is one of the coldest and most windswept vineyard sites in the area and this fruit especially benefited from extra time it was allowed to hang on the vine. These beautiful clusters belong to Babcock Winery and are destined for their single vineyard Radian Vineyard bottling affectionately dubbed "The Limit", since Radian literally lies on the boundary line of the Santa Rita Hills. The Limit is typically a structured and powerful Chardonnay with a distinct balance of energetic roundness and mineral verve. We expect the 2018 vintage bottling to be no different.