This Inspiras 2024 could work well with salmon in a tomato-basil broth, a variety of crab and lobster dishes, scallops, prawns in a multitude of preparations including Cantonese dishes, Korean spicy noodles, a range of sashimi and sushi fish such as iwashi, Hamachi, Toro and Maguro, Aji, Saba. Excellent with whole roasted or salt crust sealed fish like Branzino, Coho Salmon or a Steelhead Trout. It would complement caviar, lox, gravlax as well. Age it five years, and have it with fumet de poisson-poached halibut or flounder with white truffles shaved over them. Fresh and soft ripened sheep and goat cheeses, or aged versions of them, with aged Gouda, Parmesan or 18-month aged Comté cheese being an excellent pairing as well.

This is a wine to contemplate, and it is again, as in 2023, half Lingua Franca Estate, original block, picked on 9/16 and half Bunker Hill block 1, picked 9/20, four days later. The sourcing this year may set a pattern that we can continue.

96pts. Pouring a brilliant silver/green hue, the 2024 Chardonnay Inspiras is the companion to Novo Vivo, sourced equally from this estate and Bunker Hill. Aromas of lemon sorbet, verbena oil, white peach, quince, candlewax, Marcona almond, and green apple emerge from the glass. Full-bodied yet weightless, it has a polished, glassy texture and brings together the best of both vineyards with remarkable complexity. It may be my favorite white of the tasting. Drink 2027-2040. Audrey Frick, JebDunnuck.com