Poached apple, ground nutmeg, lemon meringue. Peach pie, golden straw, toasted coconut. Honeysuckle and fennel, sugar cookie and clove. Caramelized soft baked fruits atop crumbly cobbler with fresh cream. California style - rich, ripe, and round - yet brimming with that magical Santa Barbara acid streak. This 2014 Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay by Sweetzer Cellars is opulent and enticing.

The warm California sunshine is known for producing powerful and fruit forward wines all across the state. Unfortunately that is not always a good thing as some wines can suffer from a flabby out-of-balance condition. Thankfully the Santa Maria Valley of Santa Barbara largely avoids this shortcoming due to heavy fog that pours in from the sea daily to cool down vineyards and preserve precious acidity. This bottling, crafted by Sweetzer Cellars, possesses that juicy Cali-Chard ripeness the people love while keeping the acidity cranked to 11. It lusciously oozes ripe cantaloupe and toasted pear with a touch of oak that never approaches full butter. Orange zest, sweet florals, and baking spices add complexity to boot in this extraordinarily irresistible entry level offering. Fans of full-flavored fruitiness are sure to swoon at this affordably price appellation blend.