The 2021 Chardonnay Estate, matured for 11 months in 100% new French oak, is scented of quince, pear and lemongrass with touches of roasted almond and flint. The medium-bodied palate is satiny and expansive with a balance of concentrated fruit and flinty tones and offers a long, detailed finish.

The 2020 Chardonnay Estate, aged in 100% new French oak, offers classic California character with full, ripe yellow apple and quince fruit, pleasing creaminess from its malolactic conversion (70%), plus savory tones of toasted almonds. The medium-bodied palate is rounded and seamless, a streak of rocky character enlivening the savory fruits and drawing out the finish.

The 2019 Chardonnay is the second iteration from Daou, made from Old Wente and Mt. Eden clone vines. It's a generous, toasty style with full malolactic, barrel fermented with three months' lees stirring. The nose offers white blossoms and yellow apples, with touches of yogurt, lemon peel and stone. The palate is satiny and expansive, a streak of mineral character running through the full, ripe fruits. It offers more precision and restraint than the plush 2018 version. 400 cases were made.

The 2018 Chardonnay opens with apple pie, baked quince, lemon curd and melon touches with notes of guava, dried hay, toast and a lovely underlying spiciness. Medium to full-bodied and rounded in the mouth, it has intense, ripe, savory fruits with honey-nut accents, lifted by mouthwatering freshness and finishing long.