Joel Gott Unoaked Chardonnay, California (2022) 2022

Joel Gott made his name sourcing fruit across California and blending it into wines that outperform their price, and this Chardonnay takes the same approach to a style the state is rarely known for: clean, unoaked, and built around acidity. It's the antidote to the rich, buttery Californian Chardonnay most people expect. The fruit comes from the cool, marine-influenced vineyards of Monterey and Santa Barbara, where the long growing season holds onto natural acidity. After harvest it's whole-cluster pressed to keep the fruit delicate, then fermented and aged entirely in stainless steel - no oak, no malolactic - so nothing softens or masks the freshness. The result is bright and direct: ripe pear, apple and melon with a citrus lift, a round middle, and a crisp, clean finish. Dry and refreshing, it's best served well chilled, around 8-10°C.