2019 “Y Block” Chardonnay - Qupé Winery

Lemon meringue pie, sea salt, juicy peach. Mexican papaya, melted butter, golden delicious apple. A beautifully ripe and succulent display of sweet pineapple, mirabelle plum, and grapefruit pith radiates with excellent concentration and crispness within a round yet delicious tart and tangy attack. Notes of blooming honeysuckle, jasmine, and peonies generously impart lifted floral fragrances that playfully intersect with hints of white sage and wild herbs. Pretty wafts of vanilla and cinnamon expose well integrated oak spices that rise above beguiling suggestions of custard, warm croissant, and fresh saline minerality. Wonderfully expressive and fruit-forward on both the nose and palate while remaining quite lively and energetic throughout; exhibiting a well balanced and complex presentation that superbly combines radiant energy with admirable depth. Medium bodied and bursting with bright acidity. This 2019 "Y Block" Chardonnay by Qupé Winery is a classic and delightful white from Santa Barbara County.

Long notable as one of the most exemplary producers to be crafting cool climate wine on the Central Coast, Qupé Winery has helped lead the charge in the quest to coax a unique combination of ripeness, energy, and complexity from grapes grown in California vineyard sites previously thought to be too cold for quality viticulture. This bottling, crafted by Qupé Winery using Chardonnay sourced from within Santa Barbara County, is an excellent example of the rich yet rambunctious style this legendary producer has helped pioneer. This wine deliciously gushes oodles of citrus, stone, and tropical fruits that remain tart and tense despite their ample weight, and it backs them with subtle oak spices, creamy butter notes, lifted florals, and classic salty mineral undertones. This is a textbook expression of Central Coast Chardonnay in its most honest and authentic form, and certainly delivers on its surprisingly modest price tag. Terrific.