Cakebread Cellars Chardonnay Napa Valley 2018

WA90: The 2018 Chardonnay comes 95% from Carneros and 5% from Napa Valley. Barrel fermented in 33% new oak, it spent eight months on the lees, and 18% went through malolactic. It was bottled June 1, 2019. Slowly, it reveals very pretty poached pears, apple pie and apricot scents with touches of beeswax, toasted almond and lanolin. Medium-bodied, the palate has great poise and finesse, delivering a racy backbone and loads of tight-knit stone fruit flavors, finishing long and toasty.
JD89: Another good white is the 2018 Chardonnay, which offers a classy bouquet of honeyed apples and citrus to go with a medium-bodied, nicely textured, balanced style on the palate. Drink it over the coming 2-4 years.