Paul Lato "Le Souvenir" Sierra Madre Vineyard Chardonnay 2021

97 points - limited                          Limited new Chardonnay from cult producer Paul Lato.  First time available! 96 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "Coming from a site in the Santa Maria Valley, the Paul Lato 2021 Chardonnay Le Souvenir Sierra Madre Vineyard offers more minerality and salinity, with crisp citrus and orchard fruits, medium to full body, bright, juicy acidity, terrific mid-palate depth, and complex notes of minty herbs and green almonds. It will benefit from a year of bottle age (you'll be forgiven for opening bottles today) and will keep through 2031. ...A great California success story, Polish immigrant Paul Lato started as a cellar hand in a Santa Maria co-op/custom crush and has worked his way up to being one of the leading producers of artisanal, world class wines in California today. Lato fashions a bevy of wines (I would normally say too many, yet given the quality he’s able to achieve, the more the merrier) including Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah. These aren’t lightweight wines, yet they never lose their sense of balance and elegance. I always describe the wines as having a slightly Old World style, but with one foot planted firmly in California. As I hope the reviews show, his 2018s are incredible wines across the board. 95 Points Robert Parker: "The Paul Lato 2021 Chardonnay Le Souvenir Sierra Madre Vineyard comes from 28-year-old Wente clone vines. It underwent full malolactic conversion and was matured in 50% new French oak for 16 months. It has a slowly blossoming fragrance of quince and peach, burnt lemon peel and panna cotta, plus touches of beeswax, hazelnuts and matchstick. The full-bodied palate is concentrated and mouth coating with expansive flavors that demand your attention. It's balanced by fireworks of fresh acidity, streaked with youthful oak spices and has a long, decadent finish. This hedonistic Chardonnay is delicious straight from the bottle. 240 cases produced." ...I continue to be blown away by the wines of Paul Lato, and these are unquestionably some of the most profound and exciting wines coming from the Central Coast today. The lineup has grown substantially over the past decade, and Lato now releases upwards of five Chardonnays, six Pinot Noirs, two Grenaches, three Syrahs, a Sauvignon Blanc, and a Malvasia. Despite the number of wines, quality hasn’t slipped an inch, and the wines show incredible site and varietal typicity always paired with sensational fruit and balance. In short, don’t miss these wines!"

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