2016 El Molino, Chardonnay, Rutherford, Napa Valley, California, USA

Chardonnay is often seen as the king of white wine grapes and one of the most widely planted in the world It is suited to a wide variety of soils, though it excels in soils with a high limestone content as found in Champagne, Chablis, and the Côte D`Or. Burgundy is Chardonnay's spiritual home and the best White Burgundies are dry, rich, honeyed wines with marvellous poise, elegance and balance. They are unquestionably the finest dry white wines in the world. Chardonnay plays a crucial role in the Champagne blend, providing structure and finesse, and is the sole grape in Blanc de Blancs.

A top wine region in Napa Valley, California, Rutherford is famed for its Cabernet Sauvignon, characterised by rich dark fruit flavours and a unique "Rutherford Dust" terroir. With its warm climate and well-drained soils, the region has been integral to Napa Valley's rise as a world-class wine producer since the mid-19th century.