Our 2016 Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay shows a brilliant straw color with green highlights. Aromas of lemon curd, wet gravel, fig, and hazelnut leap forward from the glass. The wine is rich on the palate, with good weight and striking flavors of earth, meyer lemon, and key lime. A noticeable heft from the barrel fermentation and malolactic conversion of the El Jabali fruit is deftly balanced by sizzling acidity from the stainless component. Though ready for the table now with richer fish and poultry dishes, experience demonstrates that Chardonnay from thp Sta. Rita Hills ages nicely for several years in bottle.
