Crossbarn, Sonoma Coast (California) Chardonnay 2018

 In a tasting of several 2018 California Chardonnays, this wine stood out for its luscious fruit and lively character.  It has a pale yellow color and exuberantly forward, fresh apple, Meyer lemon zest and honeysuckle aromas.  Succulent flavors of ripe apple, white peach are intertwined with dusty mineral notes, and creamy mouthfeel, lifted by vibrant acidity.  The grapes were sourced from the cooler, western side of the Sonoma Coast appellation. They were harvested and processed with focus on the fruit character.  They were fermented primarily in stainless steel tanks with eight percent in neutral oak.  The wine was aged for five months with weekly bâtonnage.  This process involves stirring the wine to increase contact with the expired fermentation yeasts to impart a creamy mouthfeel to the wine.   Crossbarn, located in Sebastopol in Sonoma County, is a Paul Hobbs winery that allows the peripatetic winemaker to make great value wines with a “pure and youthful expression of fruit.”