J Vineyards, Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, California 2020

“The 2020 Chardonnay Russian River Valley was matured for eight months in about 18% new oak and underwent full malolactic conversion. “Chardonnay picked up less smoke than other varieties,” explains head winemaker Nicole Hitchcock. “We harvested the Chardonnay earlier but did not change our winemaking approach. We have our own internal labs, so we were able to run our own analysis for smoke markers.” It has layered aromas of quince, white peaches, honey and graham cracker with floral nuances. The medium-bodied palate is creamy and concentrated, with banana-laced flavors and a long, honeyed finish. It has some notable phenolic texture and may show its best in the near term.”-92WA