2016 Saxon Brown "Rosella's Vineyard" Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay (Previously $60)

To get top-notch Rosella's Vineyard Chardonnay at this kind of pricing is really a treat. There's a lot of depth on the nose, with aromas of pineapple, crisp green apple, and a hint of apricot. On the palate, it deftly balances generous stone fruit flavors with a bit of lime pith, luxurious texture, and a lingering finish. There's still plenty of acidity and freshness and it's immediately apparent that it's a top-flight Cali Chardonnay that's in a great place right now. Just entering an early drinking window, this is one that you can pop and pour at anytime, or keep in a cool cellar for plenty of more years.

This Chardonnay is only now starting to hit its stride. There's plenty of ripe apple and citrus on the nose with a hint of baking spice. The wine has some opulence on the palate which is elevated by complimenting bright acidity. It's no surprise that veteran winemaker Jeff Gaffner keeps turning out these stylish small-batch California wines. His resume goes deep having worked for some of the best in the business like Dick Arrowood as well as his time at the historic Ch. St. Jean. What is surprising is how our buyer Ryan Woodhouse keeps securing new parcels of these vinous gems direct from the source. If you like your Chardonnay with just a touch of age, I'd stongly recommend this. It took a good ten to fifteen minutes for the wine to strut its stuff but I can assure you that it wears its years in the cellar quite well.

Here is a very rare opportunity to stock up on Chardonnay from one of California's truly great vineyards. Rosella's Vineyard, in the heart of the Santa Lucia Highlands, is widely considered one of the state's "Grand Cru" sites. Planted by the Gary Franscioni in 1996, this vineyard wraps around the family home and is named for Gary's wife, Rosella. The farming here is absolutely meticulous. Everything is done by hand, with exacting detail and the resulting fruit is some of the most sought after in the region. Saxon brown winemaker, Jeff Gaffner, has used his many decades of experience to craft a wonderful rendition of this hallowed site. It captures all the wonderful purity and exquisite ripe fruit characteristics of Rosella's, and also retains excellent verve and energy from this cool-climate region that is constantly buffeted by stiff breezes off the nearby Monterey Bay. Bursting with baked Golden Delicious apple, ripe apricot, hints of wildflower honey, warm croissant, hazelnut and salted caramel. Even with all this richness, the acidity if vibrant and fresh, a resonating salty, stony mineral tinge cuts against the ripe golden fruits providing great balance and mouth watering length on the palate. It's VERY rare to see vineyard designates of Rosella's at this price point, our direct relationship with Saxon Brown, that has provided so many excellent deals in the past, has once again allowed us to bring you this beauty at 50% off! This one will be gone in a flash.