INSIDER'S PICK: 2019 ALFARO FAMILY VINEYARDS CHARDONNAY TROUT GULCH SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS $24.99

Even though we will not be doing the public tasting portion of the Insider's Pick until further notice, we will still be offering the wine for purchase with the usual 10% discount. The wines will still be ones we highly recommend, and the tasting notes will still be our own. We will be returning to doing just the one wine on Thursdays and Fridays until further notice. We hope you are able to come by and get some wines to enjoy.

The term 'unicorn wine' is usually reserved for limited production and very expensive items. We like to use the term for wines like this that deliver quality so far above the price point, even when there is every reason for them to be more expensive. And this is the second vintage in a row we've been able to offer this wine at this price, so I guess we are doing a good job of keeping it a secret (but still, shhhh!!). The Alfaro family are custodians of the Trout Gulch Vineyard which sits high up in the fog line of the Santa Cruz Mountains, renowned for producing great Chardonnay and Pinot Noir for culty cool climate specialist wineries like Ceritas, Arnot-Roberts and Kutch. They keep a share to make their own wines, and with no lesser fruit are making wines that are literally half the price of the other producers. Decidedly NOT an oak and butter bomb, this wine revels in its cool climate breeding, even weighing in this vintage under 13%abv. Racy citrus fruits and melon on the nose, cooling and minerally with just a touch of buttery tones in the background. The palate is nicely rounded and full but so vibrant at the same time, natural and distinct to allow all the subtle vineyard character to show through on the palate. This is about as good of a single vineyard Chardonnay experience you will have from California for the money. Just don't tell too many friends about it....

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