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: 2018 Samuel Louis Smith "Spear Vineyard" Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay

2018 Samuel Louis Smith "Spear Vineyard" Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay

SKU #1482671 94 points Wine Enthusiast

Outer quote mark Hints of honeydew, Asian pear flesh and sea salt show on the nose of this bottling by Sam Smith, whose personal wine project explores the whole Central Coast. There's Meyer lemon, pear galette, cinnamon and light clove on the palate, with a slight coconut finish. (MK) Inner quote mark (8/2020)

92 points Vinous

Outer quote mark Light, glistening yellow. Ripe citrus and orchard fruits on the fragrant nose, along with hints of jasmine, vanilla and dusty minerals. Fleshy and focused on the palate, offering juicy pear, Meyer lemon and pineapple flavors supported by a core of juicy acidity. Shows fine definition and spicy lift on a long, silky finish that echoes the pear and floral notes. 20% new French oak. (JR) Inner quote mark (10/2020)

K&L Notes

Winemaker's Notes: "Spear is one of the newest and most compelling sites in the Sta. Rita Hills. Planted in 2014 and farmed organically by Ofer Shepher, its northern border and steep north facing slopes hug Highway 246. Its varied elevation of up to 900 feet, and soils of both sedimentary clay loam and white beach sand make it a rarity in the appellation. Straw to pale gold and light-medium bodied. Aromas of pineapple, lemon zest, jasmine, and vanilla bean are supported by flavors of lemon meringue and honeysuckle. Explosively floral and tropical, yet linear and acid-driven on the palate, this balances California fruit purity and Old World tension. 50% malolactic fermentation. Native primary and secondary fermentations occurred in barrel . 9 months élévage in 20% new French oak barrels . Seven barrels - 169 cases produced."

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2018 Samuel Louis Smith "Spear Vineyard" Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay

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WE: 94

VN: 92

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Varietal:

Chardonnay

- It's hard to believe that up until about 30 years ago, this extremely popular varietal hid behind the veil of geographical names like Chablis and Puligny-Montrachet. Now grown all over the world and bottled by its varietal name, Chardonnay has achieved a level of branding unlike any other wine. Surprisingly, though, what you get when you buy Chardonnay can differ greatly from country to country and even within one country, depending on the climate where it's grown and how it is vinified and aged. From fresh, crisp and minerally with apple and lemon notes to rich and buttery with tropical fruit overtones, Chardonnay runs the gamut. In France's Burgundy, Chardonnay is the source of the prized wines of Chablis, Corton-Charlemagne, Mâcon, Meursault and Montrachet. It also the foundation of exceptional Champagne, where it is blended with Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier or vinified on its own into Blanc de Blancs. It is also extremely popular in California, and is gaining popularity in Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Spain and South Africa.

Country:

United States

- When people consider domestic wine, they normally think about the state of California. The fine viticultural Region within California, including the Napa Valley, Sonoma, Santa Cruz Mountains, Mendocino and Santa Barbara, are capable of growing grapes of world-class quality. But there's plenty of fabulous wine coming from other states, too. Oregon, Washington and New York are also causing eyebrows (and glassware) to be raised around the world.

Sub-Region:

California

- With the explosive growth that California's wine industry has seen the past several years, it's easy to view winemaking and grape growing in the Golden State as a recent phenomenon. And while it's true that California's viticultural history is brief compared to several European countries, this state's roots date back well over 200 years. Due to the enormous response to California wine within the United States and worldwide, there are thousands of excellent and diverse wines being produced within the state each year.

Specific Appellation:

Santa Maria/Santa Barbara

- Santa Maria and Santa Ynez make up the two AVAs of Santa Barbara County, an area known for its natural beauty and temperate climate. The best grape-growing areas, however, are located on the very coastal reaches of these two appellations, and are cooled by ever-present fog and ocean breezes (it is even cooler and foggier here than Carneros!). As expected, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir thrive while the more inland zones lay claim to Bordeaux varietals and some Rhône blends.

Alcohol Content (%):

12.8

Organic: