2019 Wayfarer Chardonnay
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Tasting notes
A beautiful, Burgundian nose of orchard fruits, white flowers, chalky minerality, and honeysuckle emerge from the 2019 Chardonnay Wayfarer Vineyard, a riveting, pure, flawlessly balanced Chardonnay that shines on all accounts. Picking up a kiss of green almond and toast with time in the glass, it has beautifully integrated acidity, a layered, rich yet light on its feet mouthfeel, and a great finish. This is just about as good as it gets in 2019 with regards to Chardonnay. Give bottles a year or two in the cellar and enjoy through 2032.
Critic scores
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
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The 2019 Chardonnay Cuvée Cleo is the first rendition of a barrel selection of the best Chardonnay from Wayfarer's 8.5 planted acres. A single barrel of Hyde clone fruit was fermented in barrel and aged for 15 months without racking. It has a singular personality, with aromas of cured meats, salted almonds, spring honey and quince, although it continually shifts and evolves as it spends time in the glass. It's equally dynamic in the mouth, with honeyed fruits clinging to a spine of bright acidity and mineral tones. It's stunning now but will improve over the next 2-3 years in bottle and has a long life ahead in the cellar.
A new wine in this range, the 2019 Chardonnay Cuvée Cleo is all Hyde Clone Chardonnay, from vines planted in 2003. Oily, rich and beautifully textured, the Cuvée Cleo captures a striking interplay of textural intensity and mineral-driven intensity. Lemon confit, chamomile, dried flowers, mint and white pepper are some of the notes that pulse through this striking, vivid Chardonnay. The 2019 is a knock-out.