2016 The Hilt The Old Guard Chardonnay, Santa Barbara Napa Valley crushed dark cherry and black

crushed dark cherry and black plum fill the bowl

rated 96 points JD

The 2019 will reward patient cellar aging

The palate is electric

but it will evolve for 50 years or more

2016 The Hilt The Old Guard Chardonnay, Santa Barbara Napa Valley crushed dark cherry and blackThe 2016 Chardonnay Old Guard comes from the oldest vines of the estate and is brought up all in older oak. It offers an almost Alsatian Riesling like minerality and green citrus streak, with more orchard fruits, white flowers, and classic salinity coming through with time in the glass. It's light to medium bodied, deep, rich, and beautifully textured on the palate, it has vibrant, tangy acidity, plenty of density and mid palate oomph, and a great