Last year at the Chanin/Lutum tasting room. It was from Bien Nacido. I rarely enjoy California chardonnay and haven’t found one from BN that I liked yet but this left me speechless. I thought it was odd that he had me taste the pinot first before the chard but when he ended on this I understood why. I will pull the bottle tonight and update this with which producer and vintage since I can’t remember now which label it was under. I am assuming it was 2014.
Going by my TNs in CT, my favorites have come from Melville Winery. I’ve had Liquid Farm (like those too), Ferren, Kistler (albeit not their top cuvees), Walter Hansel, and a few others, and my top impressions were both from Melville.
I’ll join the chorus with another shout out for the 2014 Kutch Santa Cruz Mountain Chardonnay.
One other wine that stood out for me is the 2010 Poe Wines Chardonnay Ferrington Vineyard. Poe does not get a lot of attention on this board but Sam produces some terrific wines. This one stood out as special.
Another memorable California Chardonnay for me was the 2012 Kistler Chardonnay Vine Hill Vineyard. Like Stefon’s recommended New York hottest clubs, this wine had everything: sea spray, honey, apricots, lychee, acidity, wet rocks, complexity, and elegance.
I drink a lot of Hansel Chardonnay because I believe it is the best bang for the Buck. I have also had memorable bottles from Hartford Court, Stone Street, Ramey, Aubert, Maccassin and others. Lots of good Chardonnay available.
