Timothy Eustis

Wine Director, Red Lion Inn

9.2

2022. Full bodied. Great but not too opulent nose. Lovely acidity and balanced. Macadamia nuts, lemon and something else I can’t name. Love. — 9 days ago

Freddy R. Troya

8.9

Smith Bench – Chardonnay – 2023
Arroyo Seco AVA – Monterey County – California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
100% Chardonnay sourced from the cool-climate Arroyo Seco AVA in Monterey, produced under the Wente Family Estates umbrella. Arroyo Seco’s strong diurnal shifts and well-drained gravelly soils help retain freshness while allowing full phenolic ripeness. This is a polished, approachable California Chardonnay that leans slightly toward oak influence without losing varietal clarity.

Aromas & Flavors
Ripe pineapple, golden apple, baked pear, and hints of mango, layered with vanilla, toasted oak, and a subtle touch of baking spice.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with a smooth, rounded texture. The oak adds creaminess, while underlying acidity keeps the palate lively and prevents heaviness.

Food Pairings
Roast chicken, grilled shrimp with butter, lobster rolls, creamy pasta dishes, corn risotto, or mild washed-rind cheeses.

Verdict
An easy-drinking, crowd-pleasing Chardonnay that showcases the classic Wente family style, fruit-forward, lightly oaked, and well-balanced. Ideal as a casual sipper or reliable dinner companion when you want comfort and familiarity without excess weight.

Did You Know?
The Wente family is widely credited with introducing the Chardonnay clone that became the foundation of much of California’s Chardonnay plantings, making them one of the most influential names in U.S. Chardonnay history. — 8 months ago

Melissa Hunyadi

9.6

I’m getting citrus and fruity notes from this one. I am surprised I like this. It has a light body and is easy to drink. Yay — 3 years ago

with Kelsey

Porter Breitenfeld

9.0

Slightly buttery, oaky, tart finish. — 5 years ago

Caitlin Watt

9.5

Buttery and complex! Great lingering and full body.
— 7 years ago

Leah Russell

9.1

July 2019. — 7 years ago

with Jim

Kapyrick Wine

9.0

v24. Consistently very good. Soft toast and honeysuckle nose. Creamy tropical and apricot fruit with hints of Meyer lemon. Medium, luscious finish. Nicely balanced. — a month ago

Joshua Figg

10

Citrusy and floral in the aromas, bright and balanced in the mouth. Balance of oak, acidity, and butter is perfection. Excellent Chardonnay. Faultless. — 8 months ago

"Odedi"

9.2

Light yellow in color with a golden hue.

Nose of citrus, limes, green apples, light peaches, light oak, wax, light vanilla and minerals.

Medium-bodied with medium plus acidity. Crisp and refreshing.

Dry on the palate with limes, green apples, light grapefruits, light oak, spices, earth, herbs and light vegetables.

Tangy finish with limes and grapefruits.

This is a delicious Chardonnay from California. Spicy and complex, with light oak notes to compliment it. Tangy and interesting.

Nicely balanced, and neither tart nor bitter, which is how I like it.

Needs 30 minutes of airtime to open up properly, and better when not very cold.

This Single vineyard Chardonnay feels young and fresh, and needs a few years in the bottle to mature properly. Would be nice to revisit it in 3 years and see how it evolves.

Fruit forward and elegant. Easy drinking and good by itself or with food.

Aged on its lees in (30% new) French Oak barrels for 14 months. Vegan and unfintered. A small production of only 6,600 bottles.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$75. — 2 years ago

Karyn Fricke

8.9

Light Oak, good acidity, cream with pear. Better colder. — 5 years ago

Chris Reilly

9.1

Really lovely. Fallon visit sumer 2020. — 6 years ago

Kevin Blix

9.0

Nice sparkling — 7 years ago

Rochelle

9.2

Buttery oak and a hint of cardamom 😋 — 8 years ago

Robert Stackowiak

8.9

Tangy fruit with oak. A typical California Chardonnay post oaky era. July 2026 — a month ago

Amanda Drazka

8.9

This California Chardonnay offers warm notes of butter with green apple and vanilla. It is full bodied with a long smooth finish. — 6 months ago

Doug Holt

9.0

Deep, buttery, complex - buttered popcorn — 10 months ago

Bob Boyle

9.0

A little buttery but not bad — 2 years ago

Kelley Raymond

9.1

Really buttery at a great price point, but not too oak forward. — 5 years ago

Scott Reynolds

9.1

Great for price! — 7 years ago

Eric Urbani

9.1

I think this is my favorite Paul Lato Chard to date. — 7 years ago