Westcott Estate Chardonnay 2022

Wild ferment and malolactic happenstance, ‘and if it occurs simultaneously,’ says winemaker Casey Kulczyk, ‘it’s fine, I want this.’ Barrel fermented, super turbid going in and also desired. Welcome to 2022, a vintage for which its maker forgets and leaves everything behind because adversity and challenges always puts one on their toes. Cold snap in winter, vine damage and a 60-plus percent loss of buds (on chardonnay). Great quality nonetheless, a new or different estate mix to result in a more linear, tight, bright and for Westcott, extreme iteration. Yet this arrives brilliantly, very young, not itinerantly fruity, but sharp and hyper real. Drink 2025-2029. Tasted at i4C, July 2024. Score – 92. (Michael Godel, winealign.com)