2022 Zotovich Chardonnay, Chanin

Leaner, sharper and beautifully exact, this is Chardonnay with a cool, coastal precision that feels almost architectural. Citrus peel, green apple and white nectarine lead the way, followed by a whisper of struck flint and a chalky, stony freshness that gives the wine immediate focus. The palate is taut and linear, with bright orchard fruit, a fine saline edge and a kind of quiet intensity that builds rather than bursts. There is texture here, but it is all in service of shape and drive, finishing long, clean and beautifully wound.

For when: the food is pristine, the company is sharp, and the white needs quiet authority.
Pairs with: oysters, sashimi, grilled fish, or simply cooked scallops with lemon and brown butter.
If this wine were a place: a wind-cut ridge above the Pacific, all pale light, salt air and clean lines.

Chanin has built its name on site-led Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from some of California’s most characterful coastal vineyards, always with an emphasis on restraint, detail and freshness over sheer volume. Zotovich comes from Sta. Rita Hills, a cool, wind-influenced part of Santa Barbara County that has become one of the great homes of Californian Chardonnay, and in Chanin’s hands, it becomes a wine of precision, tension and beautifully measured detail.