2019 Gary Farrell "La Riconada Vineyard" Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay

The backstory here is that Gary Farrell has decided to refocus their efforts on producing Sonoma Coast / Russian River Valley wines and will no longer be sourcing fruit from Santa Maria Valley, Sta. Rita Hills etc. Our long relationship with the winery and their exceptional wines, meant that we were offered a chance to secure some of these bottlings that will be discontinued going forward, at fantastic prices. Quantities are limited and when they're gone, they're gone, for good! The Chardonnay from La Rinconada Vineyard is simply stunning. The wine is so fresh, vibrant, focused, highlighting exactly what I love about Sta. Rita Hills. La Rinconada is a world-class vineyard, planted right next to the acclaimed Sanford & Benedict Vineyard in the southern hills of the region. The vines were planted in the mid-1990s and grow in Monterey shale (ancient seabed) and clay loam. The pristine fruit is whole-cluster pressed, fermented in French oak barrels and 500L Puncheons with about 30% new oak. The wine has wonderful verve with juicy citrus fruit, lemon curd, chalky minerals, toasted almond, jasmine, ocean air. Medium bodied with great power, texture, and concentration, yet remaining elegant, airy, fragrant, and mineral intense. To get a bottle of this quality and pedigree, from vineyard as a revered as La Rinconada, at this price is truly unheard of and ranks up there with the best values we've offer all year.