2015 Alfaro Family Vineyards, Chardonnay, Lindsay Paige Vineyard, Santa Cruz Mountains.
One of the premier Chardonnays of the region, the Alfaro Family Lindsay Paige Estate Chardonnay is always a top wine in the Santa Cruz Mountains and the latest release by Richard Alfaro is a gorgeous and intriguing effort that offers layers of complexity and brilliance, graced with pure rich California cool climate fruit and elegant Burgundy like detail. Alfaro’s 2015 Lindsay Paige Chardonnay from the gravel and deep loam soils and sloping hillsides of this estate near Corralitos, south of Aptos and the city Santa Cruz, is clearly influenced by the nearby Pacific Ocean, but has a concentrated density that is a reflection of this vintage and is a true nature’s gift and should prove to be a classic. Aged just under a year in French oak, of which a touch more than 30% new the new Lindsay Paige Vineyard Chardonnay gives classic Puligny/Chassagne mineral tones, hazelnut and lush brioche notes along with smoky spice, white flowers leads to a full bodied palate of lavish texture, showing a core of golden apple, bosc pear, zesty lemon curd and tropical fruits along with wet stones, honeyed melon/kiwi, creamy vanilla finishing with tangy clove, fig and bright peach flesh. The acidity is vibrant and lifting to the ripe fruit, but subtle in it’s presence, in this beautiful, seamless and youthful white that allows the flavors to really pop and shine. This year looks set to be a wine, with it’s focus, balance and structure, that can age extremely well, though you’d not need to do so, and this 2015 Alfaro Lindsay Paige Chard will be great with cuisine, especially lobster and or buttered shrimp/prawns, as well as soft cheeses, sea bass and roast poultry. This vintage is seductive in every way, weighty in feel, but with a near perfect 13.5% alcohol that highlights it’s best features, and continues it’s track record of quality, class and value, it’s a compelling Chardonnay that deserves serious praise, Richard Alfaro’s single vineyard series Chardonnay and Pinots are a wonderful set wines that should not be missed.
($30 Est.) 94+ Points, grapelive

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