Samuel Louis Smith "Les Granitiers" - Gabilan Mountains Chardonnay 2022

Samuel Louis Smith's eponymous winery is based in Salinas, California. Organic viticulture, mountainous sites, and minimal intervention in the cellar are tenets of the brand and a requirement when sourcing his grapes. Sam's wines offer a wonderful snapshot of the Central Coast, where he focuses on Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay, Monterey Pinot Noir, and Santa Cruz Mountains cool-climate Syrah. They are made in a neoclassical style where light handling, wild fermentations, and stem inclusion in the reds create wines of place and purity, aroma and structure. Sam's vision for the future is program based on estate-grown fruit though for now, he remains dedicated to procuring fruit from the most distinctive sustainably and organically farmed vineyards in the Central Coast.

The Samuel Louis Smith "Les Granitiers" Chardonnay pours a brilliant light gold in the glass, offering mouthwatering aromas of citrus-washed orchard and tropical fruits mingled with wet stone, white flowers and a mist of sea spray. The medium-bodied palate displays a cascade of green apple, Meyer lemon and pineapple flavors supported by lively acidity and a fine, chalky minerality. This Chardonnay finishes long, vibrant and smooth. Enjoy with salt-baked salmon or citrus-braised chicken thighs.