Alexander Valley Vineyards Chardonnay (75cl, 14%)

A Chardonnay from Sonoma County's Alexander Valley, bottled at 14% ABV in a 750ml bottle. It is made entirely from Chardonnay and uses a split-fermentation method: about 70% is cold-fermented in stainless steel with no malolactic fermentation or barrel contact, while the remaining 30% is fermented in French oak barrels, undergoes full malolactic fermentation and ages on the lees for six to eight months. The nose opens with clove-poached Anjou pear and honeysuckle, then ripe Fuji apple and tropical fruit. The palate brings green apple, citrus, peach, nectarine and melon, with restrained crème brûlée richness and chalky minerality. The finish is moderate, with pear and soft vanilla.