Chardonnay Joy Road Vineyard

West of Occidental, at a good 900 feet above sea level, lies the Joy Road Vineyard. For now, the fruit—and thus the wines produced from it—from this vineyard, which spans just under two hectares, remains something of an insider’s secret among winemakers and, consequently, among us connoisseurs. Yet Joy Road certainly has potential. The maximum temperature here during the grapes’ growing season is around 27 degrees Celsius. Not that warm, is it? And yet it is the warmest of the Rivers Marie sites for Chardonnay. Amazing, isn’t it? It’s wonderful how approachable this wine is. The apricot aromas are marvelous, as is the peach scent. And then there’s that sea of blossoms, carried by notes of chamomile and spiced up with the scent of blossom honey. A breathtaking aroma! Wow! Round and almost creamy, it flows onto the palate, building intensity, but only until the moment when freshness takes over, giving the wine an incredibly long and harmonious finish with plenty of punch. TOP!