2013 Staglin Estate Chardonnay

The 2013 Chardonnay is rich, ample and gorgeous. Orange peel, mint, spices, butter, mango and tropical fruit meld together effortlessly in the glass. The 2013 is a big, typically Californian Chardonnay, but even with all of its richness, it remains light on its feet. The malolactic fermentation is mostly blocked, but there is still plenty of intensity. Over the last few years, winemaker Fredrik Johansson has moved towards a greater reliance of larger 500 and 600 liter barrels.

Staglin has turned out a magnificent 2013 Chardonnay Estate that tastes like a hypothetical blend of the tropical, honeyed fruit of California interwoven with the minerality and crispness of a grand cru Chablis from France. This beautiful white wine offers hints of delicate peach, pineapple, honeysuckle and citrus blossom. There is fabulous fruit on the attack mid-palate and finish. Full-bodied with a subtle touch of oak, this beautifully concentrated Chardonnay should drink well for 3-4 years.

The 2013 Chardonnay Estate is exquisite. Creamy and ample, with notable complexity, the 2013 is stellar at age ten. Hints of tangerine oil, white flowers, mint, pastry and a kiss of French oak all meld together. This was the first vintage in which Staglin began experimenting with larger format oak. What a beautiful wine.