Lemon confit, buttered popcorn, baked yellow apple. Toasted peach, blooming honeysuckle, juicy Bosc pear. A ripe and succulent burst of Mirabelle plum, grilled pineapple, fresh apricot highlights a medley of plush yet energetic fruit lovingly embellished with a sizable smattering of graham cracker crumbs, vanilla wafers, and caramel. Electric opulence quickly forges ahead as jasmine and gardenias expose a flashy floral overlay further enhanced by aromas of cinnamon, nutmeg, and warm baking spices. Notes of butterscotch, toasted coconut, whipped cream, and marshmallow dust further augment perceived richness while still leaving room for a finish pulsing with surprising tension and subtle stony minerality. While round, soft, and plush on the nose the palate reveals unexpected restraint, focus, and precision; combating unabashedly ripe fruit and oak with a streak of bright crispness. Full bodied yet edgy thanks to a backbone of nicely elevated acidity. This 2018 Linda Vista Vineyard Chardonnay by Stringer Cellars is an expressive, well balanced, and decadent white from the Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley.

Located directly north of the town of Napa between Yountville and Carneros on the valley floor, Napa Valley's Oak Knoll District experiences a sunny yet somewhat moderate climate that allows for a diverse range of grape varieties to thrive. This bottling, crafted by Stringer Cellars using Chardonnay sourced from the Linda Vista Vineyard in the Oak Knoll District, showcases the unique juxtaposition of both warm and cool climate traits that this distinct appellation can capture in its wines. Although it exhibits an extremely forward fruit profile rife with baked and even tropical fruits this wine remains tightly stitched together by zippy acidity. An overt kiss of oak tips the scales slightly towards more buttery and opulent styles, yet this has enough energy to satisfy those looking for Burgundian structure and verve. Very well done.