Paul Lato "Le Souvenir" Sierra Madre Vineyard Chardonnay 2022

97 points - limited                          Limited new Chardonnay from cult producer Paul Lato.  First time available! 97 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "The Paul Lato 2022 Chardonnay Le Souvenir Sierra Madre Vineyard has a pure, crystalline nose of ripe stone fruits, white flowers, chalky minerality, and hints of minty herbs. This carries to a medium-bodied Chardonnay that has a layered mouthfeel, bright yet perfectly integrated acidity, and a great finish. It has just a kiss of background oak, and as with the other wines from Lato, it opens up beautifully with air. Drink bottles any time over the coming 7-8 years. I wouldn't be surprised to see it keep longer.: 97 Points Decanter: "Winemaker Paul Lato, known for his rich, reductive style and significant use of new oak, crafts Chardonnay with a grand cru Burgundy sensibility: opulent, powerful and refined. From a naturally late-ripening site exposed to frequent winds. Sweetly fragrant florals, ripe honeydew melon and candied citrus on the palate. A subtle reductive quality enhances the wine’s depth, while the ripe fruit character carries through a long, luxurious finish. " 96 Points Vinous: "The 2022 Chardonnay Sierra Madre Vineyard Le Souvenir is another super-classic wine from Paul Lato. This is quintessential Santa Maria in the glass. Tangerine peel, passionfruit, spice, ripe peach and a kiss of French oak are all laced together in this wonderfully expressive, nuanced Chardonnay. This is such a fine edition." Robert Parker: "...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!" ...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.

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