2018 Beauregard Vineyards Chardonnay, Bald Mountain Vineyard, Santa Cruz Mountains   

Tastings Notes by consulting Master Sommelier Ian Cauble: The 2015 Beauregard Bald Mountain Chardonnay has a light golden yellow core with a touch of green and yellow reflections on the rim. I will start by saying this is my personal favorite Bald Mountain Chardonnay I have tasted in the last decade, and the wine tastes more like the famous white wines of Burgundy than ever before. In this vintage Ryan has removed any new oak and harvested a touch earlier. This has allowed the purity of the fruit from Bald Mountain to shine, and delivers a tasting experience not too different than a serious Meursault, one of the most famous sites for Chardonnay production in France. The nose is gently perfumed with notes of white flowers, honeysuckle, yellow apple, meyer lemon, stirred lees, raw hazelnut, a touch of oyster shells and wet white rocks. The palate is medium-plus in body, with a touch of oiliness, with a refreshing acidity which frames the wine perfectly. On the palate the wine has flavors similar to the nose with notes of crunchy asian pear, lime pith, lemon blossoms, yellow apples, wet stones and a savory mushroom / saline accent on the finish. This wine will get better and better with time and I firmly believe this wine should be rested for at least 2-3 more years for it to really hit its stride. The wine is delicious now, but the best side of this wine will emerge with a bit of time. This is the most age worthy example of Chardonnay I have tasted from Beauregard to date and I can't wait to taste a bottle in 10 years! If consuming this wine in its youth, please decant for at least an hour and serve at or just below cellar temperature (50-55F) in a large Burgundy stem, please not too cold or the wine’s personality will be lost