2023 OLG Chardonnay, Our Lady of Guadalupe Vyd
"The 2023 Chardonnay Our Lady of Guadalupe is an explosive, fully fleshed out wine that channels its measured power in an extremely grippy, polished package. There's so much stuffing here, all with an overtone of saline Sta Rita Hills minerality. The Chardonnay is bright, juicy and rich with nutty accents to its slightly tropical citrus fruit, ginger and lifted white flower tones. It's a big, plush, creamy white that it undeniably attracitve in every way. Fabulous. The 2023 was fermented in barrel and aged for 9 months in 70% new French oak, already perfectly integrated." -Vinous, 96VM
"Our Lady of Guadalupe has been the single most talked-about vineyard development in the Sta. Rita Hills over the last few years. Dave Phinney made a big bet on the far western side of the appellation that has already started to pay big dividends. Phinney sells a considerable amount of fruit to select wineries and also makes wines under his own label. The first wines off the property suggest that the future is extremely bright. The team, led by Phinney, Vineyard Manager Amy Whiteford and Assistant Winemaker Christopher Hussey, clearly has ambitious goals. The wines are done in classic Dave Phinney style, which means they are on the richer side. In my view, there may be even more potential here for Chardonnay than Pinot Noir." -Antonio Galloni
