To swirl a glass of Wrath’s 2016 San Saba Vineyard Chardonnay is to stroll through an orchard – without any of the actual effort. Impressions of apricots ripening on branches, fallen peaches and freshly sliced apples take you there, even before your first sip.
It’s a profusive wine, with a lolling crème brulée note – the silken custard, the hint of torched caramel – that drapes the palate and lends a richness to the shimmering fruit. A gentle spice filters through, as well as a drop of vanilla. The notion of poundcake sits in the background, as well. On the finish, a loamy minerality lingers.
So there’s a lot to contemplate here, from its sylvan nose to the holiday kitchen evoked with each sip. Yet this is a very charming wine, loaded with fresh peaches and pineapple.
Winemaker Sabrine Rodems worked with native yeast and French oak – half of it new – to achieve all of this, limiting the run to just 154 cases. Thanks to its generous profile and heft on the palate, it’s a wine that would stand up well paired to a full Thanksgiving banquet.
WRATH WINES, Ocean and Junipero, Carmel. 620-1909, wrathwines.com