The Hilt 2016 Chardonnay "The Old Guard", Santa Barbara County   

2016 The Hilt Chardonnay "The Old Guard", Santa Barbara County

NVWE Notes: Bright and still youthful, yet beautifully expressive and notably food-worthy, the aromas of this intense wine are a melange of fresh lemon, white peach, golden fig, pineapple core, lemon curd, toasted meringue, baking-spice and hazelnut nougat, poised above an undercurrent of flinty minerality. It proves as creamy as it is zesty on the palate, where flavors of lemon sorbet, white peach, Fuji apple, fig, guava, toasted meringue, brioche, nougat, white rose, white pepper and flint are well focused and lingering. A pleasurable sipper for its vibrant fruit, it will be a super companion to richly-sauced fish or fowl.  A blend from four celebrated Santa Barbara vineyards: Bentrock, Sanford & Benedict, Bien Nacido & Solomon Hills. 474 cases produced.