A blend of six vineyards, this already displays charming aromas of yellow-skin apple, nectarine and nashi pear. Firm acidity and a very light textural grip. There's a degree of flesh on the palate but not too much.

For fans of Chardonnay without malolactic fermentation, Shafer's 2024 Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch remains a standard-bearer. Ripe pineapple, pear and honeysuckle mark the nose, while the full-bodied palate is loaded...

Very complex, showing enticing aromas of nougat, dried apples and flint at first, turning to floral notes of lilacs and honeysuckle with a hint of smoke. Medium-bodied with some oily texture, it has a creamy yet refined...

The 2024 Chardonnay Sanford & Benedict Vineyard is very fine. Creamy yet vibrant, with lovely textural depth, the S&B Chardonnay has a lot to offer. Orchard fruit, white flowers, slate, chalk, mint and sage gain intensity...

The 2024 Chardonnay Trout Gulch Vineyard is a terrific wine off this Santa Cruz Mountains site planted at 600 feet in elevation. Lemon peel, chalk, slate, mint and dried herbs race across the palate. The 2024 is nervy and...

The 2024 Chardonnay Wester Reach is a very pretty, open-knit offering from DuMOL. Lemon confit, marzipan and light tropical inflections all grace this soft, inviting Chardonnay. About a third of the fruit is from Heintz...