Some of the finest Chardonnay’s in the country hail from the Santa Lucia Highlands, and today’s wine is a shining High QPR star among the rest. At this price, the Matias Wines 2014 Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay is actually a steal of a deal.

This wine is pure summertime enjoyment in a glass!

Light and fresh on the nose, with summery aromas of lemon blossom, creamed wildflower honey, dried lime leaf, honeysuckle, young pear and brioche.

Fresh and lively on the palate, with flavors of lemon, creamed honey, lemon blossom, lemongrass, pear, white peach and river rock, with subtlest white spice at the end.

Great winemakers know what vineyards have the best fruit, and Williams Selyem alum Dan Fitzgerald shops at some of the finest vineyards around. The Sierra Mar Vineyard has been producing grapes for some of the finest wineries on the planet, including Siduri, Miner Family, WALT and ROAR Wines over the past two decades.

As a winemaker, Dan’s style continues to evolve - and he continues impress us with his mastery. Today’s wine is fantastic.

Drink now through at least 2019.

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Here’s what the wine press has to say:

95 points - “Sommelier to the Stars” Christopher Sawyer - “Located on the sloping hillsides of the Santa Lucia Highlands in Monterey County; the grapes from the picturesque Sierra Mar Vineyard have been sold to well-known wine producers like Miner Family, Siduri, WALT and ROAR Wines over the past two decades. More recently, one of the hot new producers to get its hand on the precious fruit from this revered site is Matias, a boutique brand made by talented winemaker Daniel Fitzgerald.

One of the fantastic new offerings is the Matias 2014 Sierra Mar Chardonnay. With a beautiful golden tint, the wine immediately caresses the senses with lovely scents of fresh citrus, poached pear, exotic melon, roasted macadamia nuts, and savory spices. The flavors are bursting at the seams with generous notes of ripe pear, yellow plum, lemon-lime, mineral and white pepper. In addition to a luxurious mouthfeel and rich, smooth texture, the balanced attack is lifted with a bright acidity and a long, rewarding finish. Overall, an elegant, refined and noteworthy wine that is great to drink young or cellar for up to 10 years.

For food pairings, try this sophisticated Chardonnay with medium cheeses, spicy cauliflower soup, grilled vegetables, pan-seared scallops, roasted swordfish, pasta with creamy white sauce, slow-roasted pork or grilled chicken with a tangy citrus-based marinade.”

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90 points - Jeb Dunnuck, Wine Advocate - “The 2014 Chardonnay Santa Lucia Highlands was harvested early and brought up in 500-liter puncheons, with plenty of stirring, to build texture. Clean, straight and focused, with bright acidity, medium-bodied richness and notes of citrus blossom, crushed rock and white peach, this beauty is elegant, beautifully fresh and crisp on the palate. It’s a great value and one to drink over the coming 2-3 years.”

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90 points - Mat Kettman, Wine Enthusiast - “This bottling from Brack Mountain Wine Company shows butter, sea salt and caramel on the nose, balanced by tangerine and faint jasmine aromas. The wine is elegant and easy to like, with Meyer lemon and prominent-but-not- overpowering honey butter on the palate, and a pink lemonade touch that carries into the finish.”

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90 points - Antonio Galloni, Vinous