2016 Ojai, "Bien Nacido" Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley

In the past two years, we've noticed a sea change in California wines - a fundamental shift among producers.

What started out as a few niche wineries dreaming of a more traditional, Burgundian expression, has turned into a full-on movement.

This is not a trend anymore.

Big, oaky California Chardonnays are waning.

Crisp, vibrant, mineral driven whites are here to stay.

If you missed our Anthill Farm Chardonnay a few weeks ago, here is another stunning California Chardonnay that offers both value and quality - a winning combination.

"The 2016 Chardonnay Bien Nacido Vineyard is a very classy wine, unwinding in the glass with notes of citrus zest, crisp orchard fruit, fresh peach, citrus blossom and subtle honeycomb. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, bright and pure with a delicately glossy attack, deceptive mid-palate depth, and a long, focused finish. While this is quite understated in style, it reveals more and more dimension and nuance the longer it sits in the glass, and possesses the balance and structure to evolve gracefully for seven or eight years." The Wine Advocate

In fact, Ojai's Bien Nacido Chardonnay showcases how shapely, broad and full of flavor this grape can be while possessing focused, minerally and freshness - a textbook expression of the Santa Maria Valley micro-climate.

To be clear, you still get lush, California influence in this beauty, but you don't get the extracted pineapple and fresh wood influence of years past.

The oak may be waning... but the quality is not!

Enjoy!