Squeezed Meyer lemon, cool sea spray, underripe peach. Sour green apple, fresh croissant, pineapple core. A tense, tart, and tightly wound blast of grapefruit zest, green mango, and crunchy pear writhes with powerful pulses of electric intensity bolstered by hints of gunpowder, gooseberry, and fresh jasmine. Complex notes of cashew and brioche emerge to reveal a delicate wave of lees-influenced charm that slightly softens muscular vibrations of pure-fruited zip. Earthy impressions of sandy soil, ocean brine, and saline minerality expose cool marine terroir while further complicated by inflections of wild grass, candied ginger, and polished steel. Extraordinarily energetic and racy on the palate while remaining surprisingly broad and mouth-filling; exhibiting terrific focus, crispness, and zing that all converge in a long mineral finish. Medium plus in body and backed by wonderfully high acidity. This 2018 "Stainless" Gnesa Vineyard Chardonnay by Spear Vineyards & Winery is a vibrant, spirited, and exhilarating white from Santa Barbara's Santa Rita Hills. 

While California Chardonnay is primarily known for being produced in a style that reflects the influence of oak barrels, many producers all around the Golden State are creating delightful expressions of this white variety using absolutely no oak whatsoever. This bottling, crafted by Spear Vineyards & Winery using Chardonnay sourced from the Gnesa Vineyard in the Santa Rita Hills, showcases how expressive and profound well made stainless steel Chardonnay can be. Made in a ripe yet exceptionally nervy style, this wine is packed with robust yet extremely energetic fruit that remains tart and crisp despite excellent weight and concentration. Its acidity is particularly pronounced yet not at all overwhelming, and it serves to carry a thread of bright saline freshness throughout the entire course of the wine's driving attack. This is a unique and delicious expression of the world's most popular white grape.