2020 Melville Estate Chardonnay Santa Rita Hills

Melville's chardonnay is planted predominantly on the west side of the estate, on poor soils and without any shelter from the brunt of brutal ocean winds. These conditions cause the chardonnay to capture the vibrancy, minerality and concentrated flavors that are hallmarks of the Santa Rita Hills appellation. The fruit was harvested by hand then gently whole-cluster pressed, cold settled overnight, and transferred by gravity to barrel for fermentation in neutral French oak barrels, with zero malolactic and sur lie aging without any lees disturbance.

You get a real scent of the sea at first that gives way to crushed chalk followed by lime, underripe pineapple, and honeysuckle. The palate then electrifies with citrus notes of kumquats and lime. The signature sunshine takes the stage in the glass in the form of vibrant pineapple and golden kiwi.