2019 Chamisal Vineyards Califa Chardonnay

93 points, Wine Enthusiast

This Chardonnay comes from the ridge of loamy, calcareous gravel that runs along the northern edge of our vineyard.  The vines in this area ripen a little earlier than the rest of the vineyard and display more intense flavor.  We pair this with longer time in barrel and a slightly higher percentage of new oak to balance the power of the grapes. Califa is usually the showiest of our Chardonnays but still eminently ageable.

Our 2019 Califa Chardonnay opens with notes of kumquat, yuzu and burnt sugar on the nose. On the palate, the wine has a rich and full body that’s balanced by bright and focused acidity. Notes of vanilla custard and Meyer lemon suffuse the palate and linger through the wine’s long finish.