2018 marks the first vintage of their UV- El Diablo Russian River Valley Chardonnay and it’s outstanding. Planted in 2008 by vineyard manager Ulises Valdez, El Diablo vineyard sits on a ridge above Eastside Road in Russian River Valley. It was planted to the Old Wente clone in 2008 in a gravelly soil. Early in their relationship, he told the Senses team that “when you work hard, the fruit always tastes better.” That holds very true for El Diablo. Winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown has done exactly that with optimizing this sought-after vineyard designate fruit to its best potential. “I loved the UV- El Diablo. This beauty has a wonderfully pure, elegant style that carries both richness and freshness. Giving up notes of white peach, white flowers, lemon blossom, and honeysuckle, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, bright yet integrated acidity, a stacked mid-palate, and a great finish. It shows the more supple, silky style of the vintage and is already drinking nicely, yet I still think it will be even better with another 6-12 months of bottle age. It should evolve nicely for 7-8 years or more.” 97 Points, Jeb Dunnuck.