Carmel Road Chardonnay (75cl, 13.5%)

A 100% Chardonnay from Monterey County, California, made from sustainably farmed grapes and fermented mainly in stainless steel with a smaller share in neutral oak barrels. Lees stirring in tank builds a creamy texture without heavy oak flavour. The wine is essentially unoaked in profile, with subtle complexity from the neutral barrel component. It shows white peach, Asian pear, lilac and lemon sorbet on the nose, with tangerine, Meyer lemon, melon and mango on the palate. A saline minerality runs beneath the fruit, and the texture is round and creamy. The finish is medium, with pear, citrus zest and a light nutty character.