2023 Samuel Louis Smith Chardonnay Spear Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills 750 ml

Samuel Louis Smith has been absolutely white-hot for the last few years.

But even before Wine Enthusiast called his Spear Vineyard Chardonnay “the future” of the grape in California, his wines were showing up on some of the most renowned wine lists on the West Coast: The French Laundry and the late Manresa have both poured Sam’s wines, and his bottles pepper the celebrated list at the Plumed Horse.  

The 96-point 2023 Spear Vineyard Chardonnay is the best vintage yet of what we’ve started to think of as Sam’s signature white wine. Only six barrels made the cut for this wine, which draws on Burgundy for inspiration, showing a vibrant, mineral-intense style. 

Since their debut a decade ago, Sam Smith’s eponymous wines have become some of the most coveted in the Golden State. Across all his bottlings, he only produces about 1,300 cases, living up to his self-described “micro-negociant” status. His wines draw from some of the most dramatic vineyards on the West Coast, but Spear Vineyard stands out as a crown jewel in his portfolio.

One of the most compelling sites in the Santa Rita Hills, Spear’s steepness and northerly orientation foster very slow ripening. This allows the Chardonnay planted here to hold on to an electric vibrancy and waves of minerality that seem to echo the vineyard’s chert and limestone soils. 

In the cellar, Sam gives the wine a balanced, understated treatment. A little new oak provides polish and structure without being obtrusive, while partial malolactic fermentation develops a beautiful texture. The result is a bottle that belongs on fine-dining tables across the country—and yours, as well.