Paul Lato Sierra Madre Chardonnay Le Souvenir

From a site in the Santa Maria Valley and aged 15 months in 60% new French oak, the 2017 Chardonnay Le Souvenir Sierra Madre Vineyard from Lato offers a vivid gold color as well as a rocking bouquet of lemon curd, crushed rocks, white currants, spice box, and white flowers. Rich, powerful, and layered, yet also vibrant and racy, with beautiful purity and precision on the palate, it's one of the most seamless, flawlessly balanced wines in the lineup. It's brilliant today yet should evolve effortlessly. 98 points rated by Jeb Dunnuck