Ancien 2014 Chardonnay Carneros

The nose greets you with notes of apple blossom and honeysuckle. This Chardonnay expresses beautifully forward and bright qualities early on in its life in the bottle. As with most top-level Chardonnays, this 2014 Ancien Carneros Chardonnay is fresh and complex with rich tones of Crème Brûlée that balance out the acidity. Palate-wise, creamy citrus plays well with tropical notes of kiwi and lychee. Lemon and key lime also liven the palate to some degree, leading into a superb finish that will continue to lengthen for some time to come. It was aged on its yeast lees in French oak (four different coopers) that was one-third new barrels. Its mouth-watering minerality completes it and makes this a perfect pairing for a multitude of dishes from both land and sea.