DRAGONETTE CHARDONNAY, RITA'S CROWN VINEYARD, STA. RITA HILLS 2015

Antonio Galloni - Vinous

93 Points

The 2015 Chardonnay Rita's Crown captures all the phenolic and structural intensity that is such a signature of this site. Tangerine, apricot and floral notes make a strong first impression. Even with all of its fruit depth, the 2015 has an intense saline quality that is impossible to miss. What a gorgeous wine this is!

WINE SPECTATOR

91 POINTS

Suave and elegant, with a creamy texture to the poached pear, apple tart and peach cobbler flavors. The spicy finish lingers with light honeyed notes. Drink now through 2021. 200 cases made. Issue Sep 30, 2018 KM

NVWE Notes: This delightful Chardonnay, a lovely sipper, is built for service with the most elegant cuisine. The nose offers stylish, gently creamy aromas of lemon cream pie, fresh apple sauce, Mandarin orange, nutmeg, baking spices and toasted nuts. It is tongue-coating yet never heavy on the palate, as soft-edged yet notable zest keeps it lighthearted. The mid-palate and finishing flavors are a delicious mix of spiced apple, guava, apricot, lemon cream, orange blossom, baking-spice, vanilla wafer and hazelnut over gently a firming mineral background. Delicious right away, it may grow more so over the next year or two.