Diatom - Chardonnay 2023
Price: $29.99
Sale Price: $23.99
| Producer | Diatom |
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| Country | United States |
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| Region | California |
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| Subregion | Santa Rita Hills |
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| Varietal | Chardonnay |
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| Vintage | 2023 |
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| Sku | 16867 |
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| Size | 750ml |
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There are two major winemaking choices in play here that make Diatom’s Chardonnay unique in the pantheon of California Chardonnay. First, famed winemaker Greg Brewer chooses to keep the grapes’ natural malic acid, forgoing the typical conversion to lactic acid. Malic acid is much “brighter” and Brewer feels it better reflects Chardonnay’s inherent character, without obstruction from the “buttery” flavors that result from lactic conversion. Some pretty famous wineries pioneered the style, which is enjoying a resurgence - Cakebread, Ch. Montelena, Shafer, Far Niente, Stag’s Leap – heard of them?
Where Brewer diverges from the pack is he chooses to keep the wine in stainless steel tanks, as opposed to transferring to oak barrels. Again, his stated intent is to “capture Chardonnay in its most pure and unadulterated state.”
He succeeds brilliantly, revealing what many don’t know about Chardonnay… even without malolactic fermentation and a background of oak, the grape produces rich, lush wines loaded with fruit and minerality!
I like to decant this for an hour or so… easy enough… just pour a splash in your glass while you start making dinner, and the rest in a decanter. Or pitcher. Or a clean flower vase. Whatever you have on hand. Then make dinner and reap the rewards of a little air! Oh, and make sure you pull it from the fridge about 30 minutes ahead of dinner, so it warms up a little. Trust me…
Wine Spectator: 93 Points
"This stunning wine leaps out of the glass, with concentrated flavors and aromas of white peach, quince and pineapple, plus floral accents of orange blossoms and lemon curd. Finishes with mouthwatering acidity, a note of crunchy sea salt minerality and a whiff of lemon verbena."
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