A rare Tuscan white that can stand bottle shoulder to bottle shoulder with its pricey red siblings. A blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Bianco, it is about as exotic and tropical as you will get for a Chardonnay and as upper-crusty as you will achieve from a fairly warm climate Pinot Bianco. It is like sipping a fine whiskey as you try to dissect its flavor strands–floral like honeysuckle, but some green floral undernotes, some oak barrel spiciness, and only a hint of apple, Chardonnay’s go-to comparison. It is fullish and textured without being heavy–a rare Tuscan treat.

A rare Tuscan white that can stand bottle shoulder to bottle shoulder with its pricey red siblings. A blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Bianco, it is about as exotic and tropical as you will get for a Chardonnay and as upper-crusty as you will achieve from a fairly warm climate Pinot Bianco. It is like sipping a fine whiskey as you try to dissect its flavor strands–floral like honeysuckle, but some green floral undernotes, some oak barrel spiciness, and only a hint of apple, Chardonnay’s go-to comparison. It is fullish and textured without being heavy–a rare Tuscan treat.

“The nose is springtime in the English countryside, with fruit and flowers wafting over the aroma of cobblestones after a heavy rain. That mix of floral freshness and damp saltiness lingers onto the palate, while the tannins look on, before acid blows through like a strong wind. ”

A bright silver/straw color, the 2021 Batar is a baby at this stage, although the estate has significantly dialed back the new oak over the evolution of their releases. It opens to aromas of parmesan rind, fresh almonds, fennel, white flowers, melon rind, and white peach. Full bodied while retaining good tension and a high-quality, rounded creaminess, it has a long, long finish, with a hint of saline and key lime oils. I love where this wine has taken things. It has a light smokiness that starts to lift as it opens in the glass. This is going to continue to improve with proper cellaring and drink 2025-2040.

The remarkably layered nose, with the cherries and strawberries of summer flowing into September's new pencils and notebooks, then evolving into the grassy, herbal, slightly floral smell of soil on the last warm day of autumn. The palate is full of cherries before finishing with bitter orange peel and dark chocolate.