2017 Mt. Pajaro Chardonnay

The Mt. Pajaro vineyard was planted in 2010, and the 2017 Chardonnay Mt. Pajaro Vineyard marks the first time Rhys has bottled this as a single vineyard designate. Along with the Horseshoe and Alpine vineyard Chardonnays, fruit was picked both before and after the Labor Day heat wave. "It's less clear, that character," winemaker Jeff Brinkman says of the Chardonnays versus the Pinot Noirs this vintage. The Mt. Pajaro opens with delicate notions of orange blossom, warm hay, spring honey, pie crust and hints of baking spice with loads of ripe orchard and peachy fruit at the core, plus stone and creamy notions. Light to medium-bodied, it's intense, lively and minerally in the mouth with juicy acidity and a long, refreshing finish.

The 2017 Chardonnay Mt Pajaro Vineyard is also more reticent aromatically yet has beautiful purity and precision in its citrus blossom, salty minerality, and white flower-driven aromas and flavors. It's another nicely textured, beautifully balanced Chardonnay with loads of potential, it just needs another year or two of bottle age.

The 2017 Chardonnay Mt. Pajaro Vineyard is soft, supple and engaging, with lovely tangerine peel, almond, dried flower and herb notes. This level of complexity is just remarkable for a wine from young vines in its first commercial release. I can't wait to see what future vintages hold.