2014 Estate Chardonnay - Zotovich Vineyards & Winery

Salted Meyer lemon, dried hay, peach purée. Fresh clementine, oyster shell, crisp golden apple. An intense and driving torrent of nectarine, Asian pear, and citrus zest pulses with tart and pure-fruited verve amidst crashing waves of ocean brine, macadamia nut, and brioche in an incredibly serious and attention-grabbing attack. Pronounced notes of sea spray and crushed barnacles advance the thread of brilliant saline minerality that cuts through softer tones of nutmeg, vanilla, and subtle baking spice. Impressions of dried jasmine and yellow straw emerge to provide intriguing aromatics while hints of baked cashew, custard éclair, and cheese rind reveal captivating yet restrained decadence. Surprisingly fragrant and pleasantly developing on the nose while still extremely energetic and electric on the palate; exhibiting a crisp yet broad mouthfeel that is as edgy and lively as it is serious and complex. Medium plus in body and fleshed out by booming yet flawlessly balanced acidity. This 2014 Estate Chardonnay by Zotovich Vineyards & Winery is an incredibly deep, nervy, and age-worthy white from Santa Barbara's Santa Rita Hills. 

While the greatest white wines of Burgundy are widely coveted for their propensity to positively develop over many years of cellar aging, few wine drinkers realize that new world Chardonnay can also blossom with bottle age if it is made in the right style. This bottling, crafted by Zotovich Vineyards & Winery using Chardonnay sourced from their Santa Rita Hills estate, showcases the rare beauty and complexity of a well-made and properly-aged California white. Now at 6 years old this wine is in many ways still very youthful, yet is slowly beginning to unfurl mild nutty other captivating tertiary nuances within its energetic and acid-driven frame. Though ripe its fruit remains extremely vibrant and tart while allowing salty terroir notes to steal the show with a refreshing saline bite. This is remarkably delicious today and easily has the stuffing to drink spectacularly for another 5-10 years or more. Simply awesome.