2013 Alfaro Family Vineyards, Chardonnay, Mary Katherine Vineyard, Santa Cruz Mountains.
The Mary Katherine Chardonnay is Richard Alfaro’s limited estate organic Chardonnay that comes from a special plot of organic vines planted to select clones, I believe to be Wente and a unique Kongsgaard clone, regardless this 2013 is a distinct and fascinating wine with a yellow/golden hue, full of flavor, vigor, intensity and depth. The Alfaro estate is in Coralitos in the southern part of the cool Santa Cruz Mountains, it is not far from Aptos and sits in a mostly southerly facing area near the ocean, this gives tons of acidity and long hangtimes, making for very exciting Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir too. The grapes from Alfaro’s home estate and his leased site Trout Gulch have become very in demand with a long list of top winemakers interested in sourcing the fruit, look for Arnot-Roberts and Big Basin wines from these grapes and a few more I can’t mention yet, but it’s Richard’s wines that you should really take the time to find, these are glorious efforts, especially his Chardonnay, one of my top picks for personal use and a great value. The 2013 vintage looks set to be one of best yet from Alfaro, from the Gruner Veltliner to his Pinots, but again it’s his Chards that rock n roll, particularly and spectacularly this 2013 Mary Katherine and as always the Lindsay Paige Vineyard estate wines, plus the Trout Gulch Vineyard, these are three fantastic offerings. The MK starts with exotic honeysuckle, butter rum, pear tart, tropical essences and earthy sea notes leading to a dense and tension filling palate that shows mineral, wet stones, tangerine, quince, apple and tangy lemon curd along with salted caramel, bitter peach, floral herb/spice all lifted by zesty acidity, hints of brioche and wood and a touch of honey. This dry and driving Chardonnay is packed with layer upon layer, and it changes beautiful in the glass, this is majestical, stylish and gripping Chardonnay, complex, elegant and lingering in class and detail, drink this beauty over the next 3 to 5 years.
($35 Est.) 95+ Points, grapelive
