2023 Alfaro "Mary Katherine Vineyard" Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay

Puncheon and barrel-fermented, the 2023 Chardonnay Mary Katherine Vineyard is lifted and textural, sourced from mostly Robert Young clone. Winemaker Ryan Alfaro in 2020 started to move his barrel ferments to puncheon to keep the ferments from getting too hot. Sleek with salinity, it offers subtle tropical fruit and is a little more ripe and fleshy than the Trout Gulch, with so much length and breadth across its medium-bodied frame. Given nine months in 25% new wood, it's another delicious white from Alfaro. Drink now through 2040.