Overlook chardonnay 2019 (Landmark Vineyards)

Drink now or cellar for up to 9 years. Serve chilled. Landmark’s flagship wine, the Overlook Chardonnay, has a cult following amongst American wine lovers thanks to its appearance on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 list a total of seven times. That’s pretty impressive for a boutique winery which only began production in 1974 and specialises in making tiny quantities of premium artisanal Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines. Landmark enjoys a stunning setting in the foothills of the Mayacamas Mountains and selects its grapes from prized vineyards owned żeby its partner growers. For this cuvee, winemaker Greg Stach chooses grapes from 42 individual plots in Sonoma County, including prestigious cool climate appellations like the Monterey, Sonoma Carneros and the Russian River Valley. Stach strongly believes that "wines are made in the vineyards", and the fruit is picked during the cool of night to preserve the natural character of the variety. When it reaches the winery it is gently pressed and then left to ferment naturally in oak barrels with wild yeasts. The wine is then left to mature in the barrel for 10 months with regular lees stirring. Bursting with mangos, peaches, apricots and plenty of citrus, this is a full-fat California Chardonnay with the rich fruit nicely framed by ample vanilla, caramel and butterscotch notes from the oak.