Wind Gap Woodruff Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay, 2013

Pax and Pamela Mahle, who ran Wind Gap when this wine was made, believe in creating wines with unique personalities. This Chardonnay's personality is lean and mean.

Deep lemon yellow. Bright and lively. Penetrating scents of lemon and unripe peaches. Very concentrated with grip and intensity. 12.9% alcohol; the growing season was probably cool or the grapes were picked slightly unripe. Bracing acidity, maybe a bit much for me, even though I prefer this over the big, buttery style that is more prevalent among California Chardonnays.