Ceritas Chardonnay Trout Gulch TG 36 2018

A new single-block Chardonnay from Ceritas, sourced from the coldest corner of the Trout Gulch ranch and harvested late in October 2018. The wine spent 18 months in thick-staved 300L barrels before an unusually extended stretch, another 18 months, in tank, with just two rackings and minimal sulfur before bottling. Closed and delicate at first, it opens steadily with air, shifting from airy florals into something more savory and grounded. Mint, jasmine, chamomile, yellow orchard fruit, sage and a faint earthy pull all emerge in turn. The phenolic texture and mineral depth are distinctly Trout Gulch, structured and unhurried. One of the finest Ceritas wines I've encountered in years.