2015 Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay Jackson Estates

There are two million cases (basically the equivalent of 100,000 barrels, and all hand stirred) of the 2015 Chardonnay Vintner’s Reserve. Eighty percent of this wine comes from the estate vineyards, most of them in Monterey, but to a lesser extent, in Santa Barbara, Mendocino and Sonoma. It goes through 100% barrel fermentation, with the breakdown on the barrels 44% French (5% new) and 53% American wood (8% new). It is bottled after seven months to preserve its exuberant fruit characteristics, which readers will find in its round, delicious, ripe peach, delicate honeysuckle and tropical fruit notes. It is a medium-bodied, crisp, amazing Chardonnay. With some two million cases, I’m sure some retailers will stock it in warmer areas of their stores, but when you can find pristine bottles, this wine does deliver. It has only one gram per liter of residual sugar, which destroys the false narrative of its critics that it’s very sweet. It is actually quite dry.