Arista Chardonnay 2018 750ml

Product Info

94pts Wine Advocate
The 2018 Chardonnay Russian River Valley comes from declassified barrels from Arista's single-vineyard program in addition to some purchased fruit. Made with about 15% new oak, the nose features toasty yellow apples, jasmine, honey and a streak of graphite. The satiny palate manages full, ripe fruits and fresh lift, finishing with great length and an alluring hint of matchstick. Drink Date: 2021 - 2031 Published: Nov 11, 2021  Reviewed by: Erin Brooks

91pts Vinous Media
The 2018 Chardonnay (Russian River Valley) is a very pretty, expressive wine. Airy and beautifully perfumed, the 2018 is all class. Dried pear, flowers, mint, chamomile and citrus are some of the notes that grace the 2018, a wine that shows the more restrained, elegant side of the Russian River. Drinking Window: 2021 – 2028 

This is a terrific set of new releases from Arista and brothers Mark and Ben McWilliams. Winemaker Matt Courtney nailed the vintage. The wines feel dialed in and super-expressive in 2018, with a ton of site character coming through. I was especially taken with the Pinots, as they show more refinement and less heaviness than in the past. This is a fabulous vintage for Arista. - By Antonio Galloni on July 2021

Terroir
This 2018 Chardonnay is drawn from the estate vineyards of Arista in the Russian River Valley—specifically including blocks on Westside Road, El Diablo Vineyard (Eastside Road), Banfield Vineyard (Martinelli Road) and the estate’s own Westside Road property. The Russian River’s coastal influence—morning fog and cool nights—allows the grapes to ripen with flavor depth yet retain bright acidity. The soils include well-drained alluvial loams and Goldridge sands in some blocks, contributing to focused fruit and minerality.

Winemaking & Technical Notes
In 2018 Arista employed an approach designed to highlight both richness and precision. The vintage notes indicate relatively normal rainfall and a cool stretch ahead of harvest, allowing gradual ripening and excellent acid retention. The wine was made using roughly 15–20% new French oak, with the rest in neutral wood or large format, allowing the vineyard character to shine. After fermentation the wine rested on lees to build texture and complexity. Alcohol is reported at  14.4%.

Tasting Notes
In the glass you’ll see a light golden colour. On the nose there are aromas of Asian pear, Meyer lemon, ginger, lemongrass, jasmine and slate-like minerality. The palate is medium-to-full bodied with a vibrant acidity that gives lift. Flavours include yellow apple, pear, lemon curd and subtle toasted brioche from oak influence. A chalky mineral backbone supports the fruit, and the finish is long, clean and energetic, with hints of white flowers and spiced stone. The balance of richness and tension is a hallmark of this vintage.

Food Pairing & Service
Serve this wine chilled to around 10-12 °C (50-54 °F) in a white-wine glass with some breadth to allow the aromas to unfold. It pairs beautifully with dishes such as pan-seared scallops with lemon-butter sauce, roast chicken with herb-garlic butter, or grilled halibut in a beurre blanc. Its richness also allows it to accompany vegetable-based dishes like creamy butternut-squash risotto with sage, or a cheese board of aged Comté or mild double-cream Brie. The wine is ready to enjoy now, but will also drink well over the next 5-8 years under good conditions.