Kokoro Chardonnay
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 3–10 years from the vintage release.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Pan-seared sea scallops, roasted chicken with tarragon, creamy lobster risotto
✨ wine.spec_sheet
Named after the Japanese word representing the connection between heart, mind, and soul, the Kokoro Chardonnay is Paul Lato's ultimate tribute to emotional craftsmanship in winemaking. This limited-production cuvée is a rigorous barrel selection sourced from the finest cool-climate vineyard blocks in Santa Barbara County, where the dramatic maritime influence of the Pacific Ocean preserves brilliant natural acidity. Crafted with minimal intervention, the wine undergoes barrel fermentation and aging in French oak, utilizing gentle lees stirring to develop a luxurious, multi-layered texture. The result is an incredibly poised Chardonnay that captures the tension between opulent California fruit and a refined, mineral-driven structure.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Founded in 2002 by Polish-born sommelier Paul Lato, this artisanal winery is based in Santa Maria, California, within the heart of Santa Barbara County. Driven by a philosophy of minimal intervention and a quest for elegance and balance, Lato meticulously selects fruit from some of the Central Coast's most prestigious vineyards, including Bien Nacido, Solomon Hills, and Larner. The estate is highly acclaimed for its small-production, single-vineyard Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays, and Syrahs, which beautifully capture the unique maritime-influenced terroir of the region. With an unwavering focus on purity of fruit and texture, expressions like the Solomon Hills Pinot Noir Suerte and Larner Syrah Cinematique have earned the winery a reputation as one of California's premier boutique producers.