983 cases made. The 2021 Smith-Madrone Estate Chardonnay is barrel-fermented and aged 10 months in 50% new French oak from the estate's coolest north-facing slopes at elevation, delivering Meyer lemon, nectarine, wet stone, honeysuckle, and a cardamom spice note, with a rich, creamy texture cut by vibrant, lifting acidity and a finish that goes on and on. Grown on dry-farmed volcanic Spring Mountain soils in one of California's finest vintages of the century — a severe drought year that decimated yields but concentrated everything that made it into the bottle to extraordinary levels — this is a Chardonnay built for the cellar as much as the table, with a drinking window that stretches comfortably into the early 2030s. Pair with roast chicken, grilled fish, lobster, or anything that deserves a white of genuine precision and soul.
