2015 Calera "Bien Nacido Vineyard - 40th Anniversary Edition" Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay

The 2015 Chardonnay Bien Nacido Vineyard from Calera is an exuberant Chardonnay that gives up loads of buttered orchard fruits, honeysuckle, and brioche-like aromas and flavors. These carry over to the palate, where the wine is rich and textured yet has racy acidity that comes through on the finish. This exotic, zingy effort will benefit from a year in bottle and keep for 4-5.

This one-off opportunity was almost lost! The wine was destined to go overseas to an export market before we tasted it and struck a last minute deal with the winery to take everything they had! A special 40th anniversary bottling from this California icon, the 2015 Calera Bien Nacido Chardonnay is drinking absolutely beautifully. The oak is now perfectly integrated and mellow with three years in bottle; the fruit and minerality are intertwined and persistence on the palate is elongated by a subtle hazelnut quality. Very elegant; lovely saline mineral component and concentration from the old vines. This is a seriously classy expression of one of my favorite vineyards in all of California...and who would expect anything less from Calera!