Luca Chardonnay '20

Glistening pale gold with green highlights, this high-altitude Chardonnay offers a mesmerizing nose of white peach, preserved lemon, and crushed seashells. The palate is both rich and razor-sharp, with flavors of baked quince, marzipan, and a distinct saline minerality from the Uco Valley's calcareous soils. Fermented with wild yeasts and aged 12 months in French oak (25% new), it earned 93 points for its perfect balance between opulence and freshness. The finish resonates with toasted hazelnut and wet stone. The wine's remarkable tension comes from the El Peral vineyard's 5,000ft elevation, where diurnal shifts of 30°F preserve acidity. Serve with lobster thermidor or roasted pheasant to appreciate its textural complexity.