Chardonnay

Past prime but still with some life left and offering up some fruit.  Light golden in color, clear and bright.  The nose has green apples with a touch of hazelnuts.  Medium bodied.  Strong acidity.  On the palate, there is a touch of lemons with a tart acidity.  Long finish.  This begs for food and would be nice with grilled scallops.  Drink now.

Cuvaison’s Small Lot program showcases small production of unique wines “of character and complexity and which explore different styles and techniques.” I have reviewed many of their Small Lot wines over the years and they have all excelled. Therefore, it’s exciting to once again taste a new Small Lot Chardonnay. As with all Small Lot wines, these are estate grown.

I had heard a lot about these wines so I was interested in trying one. It is a solid Chardonnay but it is more for those who like an austere style of wine. It is clearly Californian but seemingly made in an attempt to override terroir in favor of a less is more style. The things is I love Santa Cruz Chardonnay. Producers such as Kutch, Ceritas or Rhys manage to make wines that show the Santa cruz terroir without being overblown. But, that is the great thing about wine. So many style and no wrong answers as to what is "best". Light golden in color, clear and bright.