Indian Wells Chardonnay 2020 (Chateau Ste Michelle)

Drink now or cellar for up to 7 years. No need to decant. While Chateau Ste Michelle was started as a small wine producer in the post-prohibition era of 1912, it has grown to become of the most dominant wine houses in America. The 2015 growing season boasted warm weather that created optimal ripening for most varietals and yielded outstanding quality grapes. The warm days of the region help the grapes bring out their tropical and sweet citrus characteristics while the cool nights ensure proper structure and flavor intensity. The Indian Wells Chardonnay is made with a New World tropical quality in mind. On the nose, pineapple, passionfruit and guava come out of the glass. These fruit notes continue when tasting as well, but on the palate is when you get the creamy butterscotch note. The creamy, rich, buttery texture leads the winemaker to refer to this wine as his "Pineapple Upside Down Cake Wine". For amazing food pairings, look to try this wine with pasta or scampi with rich white sauces. The rich texture of the wine holds up nicely, but the bright acidity helps to cleanse the palate. The light but rich texture of scallops also works well with the wine. Dishes with lemon zest, tarragon and/or thyme are also a fantastic fit.