Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2018 Chardonnay Magnolia bursts with tropical fruit, toasty oak and baking spice scents plus a waft of praline. Medium to full-bodied, it has a pleasant hint of oiliness to the texture and is packed with uncomplicated pineapple and spicy flavors, finishing with a lively lift. 1,500 cases were made.
Winemaker Notes
2018 turned out to be another exceptional vintage for Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay. Unlike the weather that resulted in the short 2017 crop the 2018 vintage was nearly perfect climatically and the wines possess a number of notable attributes. Asian pear and baked apple compliment hints of vanilla wafers, toasted almonds and plenty of tropical fruit. A vibrant silky texture with plenty of crisp acidity, this Chardonnay should continue to evolve and improve over the next few years.