2018 Cattleya Chardonnay ‘Cuvée #5’ Sonoma Coast

WSI94 WE94 Clean aromas of melon, sea salt and peach brioche make for a fresh yet edgy entry to the nose of this bottling. There’s a great chalky texture and firm tension on the sip, where flavors of lime peel and lemon spray meet with an underlying toasty core.
JD93+ Starting with the 2018 Chardonnay Cuvee Number Five, which comes all from the Sonoma Coast, this medium-hued effort offers a rich yet also fresh nose of stone fruits, honeyed minerality, Meyer lemons, and citrus pith. Still young and unevolved, with medium to full-bodied richness and bright acidity, it’s a beautiful wine that needs 2-3 years of bottle age and will drink nicely over the following decade.