Big Basin Vineyards Santa Cruz Chardonnay Howard Family Vineyard 2019 Jura and Savoie Hand-harvested grapes aged sur lie

Hand-harvested grapes aged sur lie for two years in neutral oak develop tropical nectarine and mango character balanced by white florals and granular minerality

all carried by a fine mousse and a long

licorice and black pepper

lively and enticing

For anyone who loves the northern Rhone

Big Basin Vineyards Santa Cruz Chardonnay Howard Family Vineyard 2019 Jura and Savoie Hand-harvested grapes aged sur lieA direct answer to anyone who thinks California Chardonnay can't age. Big Basin farms this old vine parcel in the Santa Cruz Mountains, planted back in 1977 on sandy loam over bedrock, just miles from the cold water of Monterey Bay. That maritime chill keeps natural acidity high and the wine taut. Made with a light hand, aged in French oak and then rested in stainless, unfined and unfiltered, it's built on restraint rather than richness. A structured,