2021 Samuel Louis Smith Chardonnay Spear Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills 750 ml

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If you knocked on Samuel Louis Smith’s door, looking for his 96-point 2021 Spear Vineyard Chardonnay, you’d be SOL.

Wine Enthusiast liked it so much they named it their top-rated California Chardonnay of the vintage—but only ten barrels were made, and they’ve all left the cellar. You'd be in good company in your interest, though. The French Laundry and the late Manresa have both poured Sam’s wines, and his bottles pepper the celebrated list at the Plumed Horse.  

These bottles, which draw on Burgundy for inspiration, show off a vibrant, mineral-intense style that Wine Enthusiast called “the future” of Chardonnay in their glowing review.

Across all his wines, Sam only produces about 1,000 cases, living up to his self-described “micro-negociant” status. His wines draw from some of the most dramatic vineyards on the West Coast, but Spear Vineyard stands out as a crown jewel in his portfolio.

One of the most compelling sites in the Santa Rita Hills, Spear’s steepness and northerly orientation foster very slow ripening. This allows the Chardonnay planted here to hold on to an electric vibrancy and waves of minerality that seem to echo the vineyard’s chert and limestone soils. Sam thinks Spear is on its way to become one of the iconic vineyards of the region, and this bottle also makes that claim pretty strongly.

In the cellar, this wine sees a balanced, understated approach. A little bit of new oak provides polish and structure without being obtrusive, while the wine undergoes partial malolactic fermentation to develop texture. The result is a bottle that belongs on fine-dining tables across the country—and will elevate yours, as well.