
WENTE “Eric’s” Unoaked Chardonnay 2016
(Livermore Valley, San Francisco Bay, CA) $26
Finding a fresh, crisp chardonnay that doesn’t have a thump of oak or a twang of sweetness is, well, rare. (We taste hundreds of chardonnays and too many taste like ground up St. Joseph’s Aspirin for Children). But Wente’s “Eric’s” is the real deal—a chardonnay with lovely apple and pear flavors, and an aliveness on the palate that’s refreshing. Wente is one of the oldest great names in California chardonnay (many of the original chardonnay plant material came from this winery in the 1800s). Fifth generation winemaker Karl Wente made this in honor of his father, Eric. (13.5% abv)
90 points KM
Available at Wine.com