Wine Each Week ~ J. Lohr Estates 2019 Riverstone Chardonnay

Looking for a $14 Chardonnay that delivers? Here it is. As winemaker Kristen Barnhisel told me: “This Chardonnay is made from 9 different clones with each adding something unique. Early ripening French clones provide lushness ripe stone fruit flavors and soft acidity, later ripening clones, like 4 and 5, hold their acid and provide fresh delineated citrus flavors.” Indeed - there is a light lemon quality, along with notes of guava, lime kefir, white peach, a bit of amber resin and enough acidity to work well with food. It’s also a wine that is just very pleasant to drink. And frankly, it tastes like Chardonnay and represents the Salinas Valley quite well. Riverstone, named for the rocky dirt the grapes are grown in, shows you how complex Monterey County Chardonnay can be. ORIGIN: Salinas Valley, Monterey ALCOHOL: 13.9% PRICE: $14/750 ml PAIR WITH: Barbecue chicken pizza; shrimp scampi; Porcini mushroom risotto SCORE: 90 POINTS