The 2018 Chardonnay Russian River Valley comes from declassified barrels from Arista's single-vineyard program in addition to some purchased fruit. Made with about 15% new oak, the nose features toasty yellow apples, jasmine, honey and a streak of graphite. The satiny palate manages full, ripe fruits and fresh lift, finishing with great length and an alluring hint of matchstick.

Starting off with the appellation 2018 Chardonnay Russian River Valley from Arista, this smoking Chardonnay would be ideal for readers trying to understand the style of Arista as well as the overall quality of this estate. Offering up a light golden hue as well as a beautiful perfume of stone fruits, pear, honeyed minerality, and white flowers, it hits the palate with more medium-bodied richness, a round, supple, layered texture, beautifully integrated acidity, and one heck of a great finish. This is one incredible appellation Chardonnay that should be snatched up by readers.

The 2018 Chardonnay (Russian River Valley) is a very pretty, expressive wine. Airy and beautifully perfumed, the 2018 is all class. Dried pear, flowers, mint, chamomile and citrus are some of the notes that grace the 2018, a wine that shows the more restrained, elegant side of the Russian River. -- Antonio Galloni