The 2020 Chardonnay Russian River Valley was matured for 12 months in 20% new French oak barrels and finished with six months in stainless steel. Like many of the 2020s from Arista, it is inviting and ready to drink, with white peach and pepper aromas accented by touches of green herbs and beeswax on the nose. The full-bodied palate has a creamy texture and is loaded with peachy flavor, and it finishes with fresh acidity and nutty nuances. 1,000 cases produced.- EB

Offers lemon sherbet, salted butterscotch and lemon blossom notes that are fresh and aromatic, with a seamlessness to the supple texture and fresh acidity. Reveals a touch of vanilla crème anglaise and fresh, fleshy nectarine notes that linger on the long finish. Drink now. 1,000 cases made.

All these white wines from Arista are a medium yellow with glints of green. The 2020 Chardonnay Russian River Valley is expressive with gorgeous minerals and a ripe profile of flinty wet stone, ripe pear, and delicate baking spices. Ripe and full-bodied, with clean lift on the finish without feeling heavy on the palate, it reveals notes of quince, pink grapefruit, and a hint of vanilla to round it out. I like where this is now, although it will be lovely drinking over the next few years.<!--more-->Located in the heart of the Russian River Valley, Arista Winery was founded in 2002 by Al and Janis McWilliams, who handed over day-to-day operations to their children, Mark and Ben, in 2012. Today, the winemaking is overseen by esteemed winemaker Matt Courtney, who spent eight years with Marcassin. Additionally, Matt makes wines under his own label, Ferren. He holds back an additional year in bottle for both wineries before release. Thus, the most recent coverage is for the 2020 vintage, where they made the difficult decision to only produce white wines due to the impact of the fires.