J. Lohr Riverstone Chardonnay 2023

Enjoy it now, or hold for a few more years. No need to decant before serving. The “J” in J. Lohr Estates stands for Jerry, the founder and pioneer who settled in California at exactly the right time. Armed with farming knowledge from rural South Dakota, Jerry Lohr’s search for a world-class terroir for viticulture led him to the Central Coast region of California. He first settled in Monterey County in the 1970s, before expanding south to Paso Robles. Nowadays, J. Lohr Estates own thousands of acres of vineyards across the two regions, as well as a small parcel of Carol's Vineyard in Napa Valley, growing a mixture of cool climate and warm climate varietals. The Riverstone Chardonnay is sourced from the former - the chilled, foggy AVA of Arroyo Seco. This wine is straw yellow in the glass, exhibiting intoxicating aromas of juicy orange, nectarine and hints of nut. 9 months of oak ageing has given this wine a wonderful round mouthfeel, with hints of oak that show up on the long finish. There are flavours of stone fruit on the palate, peach and apricot, supported by notes of honey, citrus, vanilla and cream. It’s a diverse wine for pairing with food, but it will be particularly good with white meats and white fish such as halibut.

Price: £16.99 from 8wines UK