John Sebastiano Vineyard
Rich and viscous on the palate, the wine shows terrific texture balanced by an underlying tension that keeps it lively and precise. Best enjoyed on the warmer side, it reveals layers of dense melon and tropical fruit that meld beautifully with notes of salted butter-topped French bread and subtle shades of cardamom. An outstanding wine to savor now, it will continue to evolve gracefully for at least another eight years. Drink now through 2035.
Sourced from John Sebastiano Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills. This Chardonnay underwent native fermentation and was aged for 16 months on the lees in 50% new French oak.
James Suckling, 94 points Long and layered, with a fascinating mix of flint, yellow apples, pears and melon. This is a cohesive and harmonious wine with minerals and fruit elegantly spiced and woven together with detail and energy. Drink or hold.
Cristaldi and Co, Score 93 Sourced from John Sebastiano Vineyard, a site planted across steep, wind-exposed slopes with a mix of sandy loam, clay loam, and pockets of diatomaceous earth—soils and aspects that create naturally low yields and concentrated fruit—this Chardonnay is native-yeast fermented in barrel and aged 24 months in 50% new oak. The oak presents vividly, offering a rich, toasty profile that builds in the glass before giving way to lemon curd and butterscotch. It’s incredibly rich and unabashedly ripe, showing caramel-drizzled candied citrus rind, tangerine, tangerine oil, and warm ginger spice. Yet it’s a bit of a chameleon: a current of zesty acidity rises through all that silky richness, bringing the wine into balance.
