2016 Bien Nacido Vineyard Chardonnay - Byron Winery

Salted peach, crushed clove, baked yellow apple. Fresh apricot, toasted marshmallow, brûléed yellow pear. A remarkably pure and driving parade lemon curd, grilled pineapple, and creamy stone fruit elegantly collides with jasmine, hazelnut, and nutmeg in an exceptionally energetic and aromatic display. Impressions of French vanilla and cinnamon stick swiftly materialize to augment the fragrant bouquet while white rose, straw, and honeysuckle reveal a floral and lightly natural edge. Hints of buttered croissant, cashew, and cream emerge to expose a pinch of decadent richness while sea breeze and sandy earth sing of terroir. High toned and expressive on the palate while somehow remaining flawlessly restrained; exhibiting great freshness alongside weightless opulence made possible through outstanding precision and focus. Medium bodied yet mouth-filling with a pristine vein of elevated acidity. This 2016 Bien Nacido Vineyard Chardonnay by Byron Winery is an incredibly bright, complex, and delicious white from the Santa Maria Valley.

Santa Barbara County's Santa Maria Valley is inarguably one of the greatest regions for cool climate viticulture in the state of California, and few experts would argue against the Bien Nacido Vineyard being the very best vineyard in the entirety of this unique appellation. This bottling, crafted by Byron Winery using Chardonnay sourced from the Bien Nacido Vineyard, showcases the magic of the SMV at its purest and most spectacular. From the minute the cork is pulled this wine booms with succulent fruit yet still remains quite delicate and restrained, and it's overt yet unobtrusive touch of oak works to frame and beautify its natural charm. There is a lightly nutty character here that further bolsters complexity yet does not detract from a persistent thread of oceanic influence. An amazing expression of one of California's greatest terroirs.