Marchelle, Mendocino, Sonona and Santa Barbara Counties (California) Chardonnay 2021

 In music, a tritone is the interval that is halfway between the root and the octave.  It is sometimes referred to as “the devil’s interval” since on its own it sounds rather angular and sinister.  (If you know a little music, a tritone would be C to F#).  The great thing about the tritone is that it leads, or practically forces, you to go somewhere – think the first three notes in West Side Story’s beautiful “Maria.”  Whether the Tritone moniker for this wine is a musical reference or an allusion to the fruit being sourced from the three counties of Mendocino, Sonoma and Santa Barbara, this tasty Chardonnay echoes that concept in a style that I love.  The angles come together here, with bright apple, faint butterscotch, lemon zest and a well-chosen oak load that is felt but not dominant.  It rings my crisp and creamy bell, and finishes long and fully integrated.  Made by Cali-gundian legend Greg La Follette.