2016 Chardonnay Reserve
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Tasting notes
Due to the additional year of aging in stainless steel tank, the 2016 Chardonnay Reserve is endowed with more vibrancy and length than its Estate counterpart. Also present are more lifted, exotic aromas of fennel pollen, hay and honeysuckle that leap from the glass with greater intensity. The palate is more precise and tense, balancing the mid-palate weight of the Estate bottling with an extra dimension of fine-boned structure.
Critic scores
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Matthew Luczy, Wine Advocate
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The 2016 Chardonnay Reserve is the stuff dreams are made of. Towering and statuesque in its pedigree, the Reserve shows why the Santa Cruz Mountains is such a special place. The 2016 is deep, powerful and intense, and yet it remains remarkably finessed as well. Tangerine oil, mint, chamomile and lightly honeyed notes all develop with a few hours of aeration. The Reserve is a blend of 11 barrels (all neutral oak) that spends its second winter on its lees in tank, an approach that is common in Burgundy, but that is not often seen in California. All I can say is: Wow!