Paumanok 2021 Minimalist Chardonnay

Founded in 1983, Paumanok is the second oldest vineyard on Long Island and continues to be run by the same family, now in the hands of sons of husband-and-wife founders Ursula and Charles Massoud. The Minimalist line of wines are Paumanok's native ferment, unfined, minimal-sulfur bottlings from their North Fork, Long Island vineyards. The sandy soils provide ample drainage, allowing the vines to thrive even with heavy rainfall and moisture. The 2021 Minimalist Chardonnay is focused and precise while still giving some ripe apple and pear fruit, with lovely texture and mouthwatering acidity. Winemaker Kareem is a big proponent of screw-caps, which allow the wine to age more consistently and can preserve freshness, mimicking the oxygen transfer achieved with high quality natural corks. This is delicious now but judging by some of the past vintages tried at the winery recently it should gain complexity and really shine in a few years.