Chardonnay is ubiquitous and there are more iterations of it than probably any other grape, considering it’s the most widely planted grape on
the planet. Therefore, a chardonnay needs to stand out, and that’s exactly what winemaker Bibiana Gonzalez Rave has done with her 2019 chardonnay. From the first sip it announces itself with impressions of lemon zest, lime kefir, Asian pear, white peach, red delicious apple, creamy lemon curd with hints of vanilla bean and orange blossom. The acidity and clean linear expression is admirable. And most importantly, it’s enjoyable to drink, and isn’t that what we want? The wine was fermented and aged on the lees is neutral French oak. As winemaker Bibiana told me, “I pride myself on making wines of extreme purity and precision, always focused on the variety and its intrinsic characteristics.” That ideal is clearly evident in this wine, and other vintages of Alma de Cattleya I have tasted.
ORIGIN: Sonoma County
ALCOHOL: 14.1%
PRICE: $26/750 ml
SCORE: 92 POINTS
