Melville Melville Chardonnay Estate — Sta. Rita Hills 2023 750ml

The 2023 Chardonnay is exquisite. Floral and lifted, with striking precision, the Melville Chardonnay makes such a strong case for why Chardonnay is so ideally suited here. Lemon confit, jasmine and light tropical inflections are some of the notes that grace this sublimely elegant white. Bright acids pull it all together on the finish. I would give the 2023 six months to a year in bottle, as it is pretty tightly wound at this stage. (AG)

A vivid, bright and polished wine with fresh apples, a smooth texture and subtle, spicy complexity. Fermented in neutral barrels, the wine gives pineapple, lemon and golden apple fruit for a generous palate backed by good acidity and hints of minerality. Drink or hold.

Energetic, sleek and vibrant, with pineapple, lemon curd and pomelo notes up front. Touches of fresh ginger, crunchy sea salt and orange blossoms linger on the finish alongside details of matcha and white pepper. Drink now. 2,380 cases made.

The 2023 Chardonnay Estate spent 10 months in barrique without malolactic fermentation. It opens with clay, green apple, jasmine and citrus rind aromas framed with a touch of reduction. The palate is linear, focused and acid-driven, pleasantly bolstered by a touch of phenolic richness through the saline finish. Readers who enjoy laser-focused expressions of Chardonnay will find much to love here.