Keller Estate, La Cruz Chardonnay, 2020

Keller Estate was born from the vision of Arturo Keller, a Mexican entrepreneur and vintage car enthusiast who originally purchased the 650-acre property in 1989 to house his car collection. Upon discovering the land's agricultural potential, he planted the first 13 acres of Chardonnay. In 1998, his daughter Ana Keller took the helm, shifting the focus toward elite winemaking and establishing the winery’s first commercial release in 2000. The estate was instrumental in the 2018 designation of the Petaluma Gap AVA, a sub-appellation of Sonoma. The winery operates under a philosophy of stewardship and heritage, often summarized by their guiding mission: "To produce wines that reflect our unique terroir and capture time and place in each bottle." They also emphasize a lifestyle philosophy: "Wine is meant to be enjoyed with loved ones around the table with food." This wine is 100% estate-grown Chardonnay. This wine is aged in French oak barrels for 9 months. It underwent full Malolactic Fermentation (MLF), which accounts for its creamy, buttery texture. This Chardonnay presents a bright, beautiful golden hue that leads into a luxurious aromatic bouquet of tropical guava and mango paired with stone fruits like apricot, all elegantly accented by honeycomb, white flowers, and vanillin oak. On the palate, the wine is plush and creamy, offering a decadent "butter toast" texture that carries flavours of green apple, pear, and lemon zest balanced against a distinct wet stone minerality. The experience concludes with a long, mouthwatering finish, powered by the vibrant, high acidity that defines the unique terroir of the Petaluma Gap. Pair this wine with creamy lemon risotto or roasted chicken with tarragon butter to complement its rich texture and bright acidity.