Bright in fruit and wafting of orange blossoms, Arnot-Roberts Watson Ranch Chardonnay is a remarkable contrast to the producer's more savoury, earth-toned Trout Gulch Vineyard bottling. Sourced from calcareous clay and limestone soils on a hillside overlooking San Pablo Bay, it's a strikingly maritime, thirst-quenching wine juxtaposing brisk grapefruit and quince flavours against a seaspray of freshness.

The 2021 Chardonnay Watson Ranch is broad, creamy and super-expressive. Dried pear, apricot, chamomile, dried flowers, mint and herbs are nicely laced together in this savory, expressive Chardonnay. Give it a few years in bottle to soften.