Moss Wood Ribbon Vale Chardonnay 2023

100% malolactic fermentation and 23% new French oak barriques for nine months. This is no shrinking violet of a wine. Fruit is in the fuller spectrum with plenty of lanolin and ribbons of ripe and opulent florals. Delicate charry oak wraps around golden blossom, lemon curd, red berries, and melt-in-your-mouth brioche laced with baking spice. Glossy, golden and fine phenolics provide layers of texture on the palate, paired with a simmering acidity. There is lots going on here, and it keeps evolving in the glass. There’s an intensity to the core of fruit, though the plush outer layers offer delicate banoffee tart, fresh vanilla pod, and pillowy whipped creaminess. Yes, it’s a plump iteration of the variety, yet there’s a tautness to the fruit and acid balance that invites plenty of love for a Chardonnay of this style.