LATO CHARD BELLE DU JOUR '17   

PAUL LATO CHARDONNAY "BELLE DE JOUR", DUVARITA VINEYARD, SANTA BARBARA COUNTY 2017

NVWE Notes: This new "Belle" is a brighter, more citric wine than the Montrachet-like 2016. There is a racy stylishness to the nose, where aromas of lemon sorbet, tangerine zest, pear skin and green apple join sweet-savory counterpoints of vanilla wafer, brioche, toasted meringue, baking-spice and hazelnut nougat. It is as elegant and fresh as predicted on the palate, but there is a richer, more tongue-coating texture than was expected. The flavors are a classy medley of hazelnut, honey, applesauce, apple skin, yellow peach pit, lemon cream pie and white pepper that glide as a caressing wave through a lingering finish. Its potential should be fully realized over the next twenty-four months or so.