Alfaro Family Santa Cruz Mtns Estate "A" Chardonnay 2024 JULY42024 savory and nutty in the

savory and nutty in the background

San Pablo Bay breezes

Some raisins and sultanas bring a bit of juicy depth

Rhys' natural whole-cluster pressing and year-long fermentation without racking create a wine floral and aromatic yet grounded by crisp

it's bottled simply as Vin de France

Alfaro Family Santa Cruz Mtns Estate "A" Chardonnay 2024 JULY42024 savory and nutty in theRichard Alfaro had a former life as the founder of Alfaro's Micro Bakery before he bought an aging apple farm in Corralitos in 1997 and turned it into one of the Santa Cruz Mountains' most quietly consistent estates. The 'A' Chardonnay is the entry into his estate range and draws from his original Corralitos plantings plus fruit from the famed Trout Gulch Vineyard further west. Just seven months in French oak, only 20% new, so it's about fruit and