Marbeso Chapel Vineyard Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills 2020

While we usually hear about new brands and projects via tastings with local winemakers, we regularly review bottlings from wine regions further afield. On any given day, ACME receives packages, sometimes sight unseen, from up-and-coming winemakers in Oregon, Washington, and even New York state. These strivers are eager for us to try their wines with the hopes and dreams of one day being featured in one of our clubs or on our famous wall. Just last month, we opened a box of four wines from Colin McNany of Marbeso Wines in California’s Central Coast. And the rarest of things occurred- all of us liked ALL OF THEM. This was our favorite Chardonnay.

Colin grew up in Palos Verdes, California, and his mother was a chef who helped develop his palate from a young age. He studied sustainable agriculture at UC Santa Cruz, where he published a thesis on viticulture and went on to plant a one-acre organic Pinot Noir vineyard. After working harvests in New Zealand and Australia, Colin joined the winemaking team at Bargetto and later Hunt and Heist while contributing to the tasting panel at Wine and Spirits magazine. Somehow, he still found time to start a family and pursue his love of surfing and abalone diving! Marbeso is Colin’s winemaking passion project and takes its name from the Spanish words for “sea” and “kiss” because all of his Central Coast vineyard sources are within a few miles of the cool waters of the Pacific. This single vineyard Chardonnay from the Chapel Vineyard in Santa Barbara is bright, fruit-forward, and elegant. And we are thrilled to share it with you!

This Chardonnay is bursting with aromas of lemon meringue, dried tangerine, and crushed limestone. A citrusy creaminess melts into white florals and fresh acidity. Aged in neutral French oak, it is a nod to Burgundy with a laid-back California vibe. Just 100 cases produced.