2018 Hamilton Russell Chardonnay

The 2018 Chardonnay is 95% barrel-fermented and matured for nine months in 29% new oak, the rest used. It has a clean, fresh bouquet of enticing scents of lemon zest, orange blossom and grilled hazelnuts, and perhaps just a hint of brioche in the background. The palate is well balanced with a clean, crisp opening, spicier than I was expecting, and those nutty notes are flanked by a touch of dried orange peel toward the finish. Very fine. 92 points