2018 Arista UV-El Diablo Vineyard Chardonnay [JD95][WS95][V94]

Producer: Arista  
Region: Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California 
Varietal: Chardonnay  
Year: 2018 

Jeb Dunnuck, 95 Points

 "I always love this cuvée, and the 2018 Chardonnay UV El Diablo Vineyard doesn't disappoint, offering a full-throttle, rich, yet still poised and elegant style with lots of ripe melon, honeyed lemon, flower oil, crushed stone, and subtle toasty oak-like aromas and flavors. Beautiful on the palate, with lots of clean, crisp fruit as well as ample texture, it's balanced, has a great finish, and is just a brilliant Russian River Chardonnay." 

Wine Spectator, 95 Points 

"Big, rich and powerful, with concentrated apple and peach pastry flavors that are filled with cooking spice and custardy accents, followed by notes of buttered toast on the finish." 

Vinous, 94 Points 

"This is rich and textured in feel. A bold, dramatic wine, the Diablo races across the palate with striking depth and tons of textural richness. This is an especially oily, viscous Chardonnay, with all the elements nicely balanced. Tangerine oil, mint, honey, almond, dried flowers and chamomile all grace this caressing, inviting Chardonnay from Arista." 

Winemaker Notes: 

"2018 is a spectacular vintage for Chardonnay and the U.V. El Diablo bottling reflects this with its broad spectrum of classic notes: lemon oil, cut kiwi, pine needle and baking spices. The wine is beautifully translucent, and effortlessly silky. This is a wine that gives copious amounts of pleasure at this very young stage, but it will also age gracefully for a decade or more." 

Alcohol: 14.2% 

*Price and availability in store may vary. Vintage date may differ from pictured.