Staglin Chardonnay

At once delicate and powerful, the 2016 Staglin Chardonnay opens to reveal a citrus complex of Buddha’s hand, galangal and kaffir lime leaf underlain by cut melon, firm stone fruits and fissured granite with flecks of damp limestone and subtle hints of spice. Like 300 thread-count Pima cotton sheets, this precise wine is cool, crisp and smooth with a lithe and engaging texture that just glides seamlessly from beginning to end.

It has a wonderfully expressive tropical fruit nose, offering notes of pineapple, green mango and fresh grapefruit plus hints of honeyed toast, orange blossoms and nutmeg. Medium-bodied, soft, refreshing and approachable at this youthful stage, it has a lovely spiciness contributing to the depth on the finish.