In many cases a wine is greater than the sum of its parts and this holds true for the 2016 iteration of MacRostie Sonoma Coast Chardonnay, utilizing fruit from five different sites. To keep that fruit in prime expression this wine was whole cluster pressed, after which 15% of the wine stayed in stainless steel while the rest went into both new and used oak. A smart decision as this expresses lemon-lime, apricot, honeysuckle, white peach, guava and sweet resin. This is a lively wine, dancing on the palate, and the restrained use of oak compliments, not overrides, the delicate tropical, summery nature of this wine.
What is becoming clear is that the Sonoma Coast designation for Chardonnay produces unique and different wines from their inland brethren, and at a mere $25 it is money well spent, and for on premise accounts it is a sure winner.
SRP? $25
18,000 cases
