Winemaker Notes
The fruit for this Chardonnay is grown in vineyards between the Russian River and the Sonoma Coast. The coastal influence provides the right balance of acidity, texture, softness, and length. Fruit is harvested by hand at night and is immediately taken to the winery for gentle pressing. The juice is transferred to both neutral barrels and new barrels after settling overnight to start its fermentation. The wine is then aged in neutral barrels and stainless steel tanks for 11 months before going to bottle.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2023 Chardonnay is very appealing on the nose, with notes of fresh peach, citrus blossoms, zesty citrus, and wet stone. This medium-bodied white has a lovely, silky texture, although it cleanses the palate with fresh acidity and floral notes. It’s showing exceptionally well now and is going to show its best over the next few years.
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Vinous
The 2023 Chardonnay (Sonoma County) has such an impressive depth of fruit and texture for an entry-level wine. Sweet white peach, nectarine, chalk and mint unfold in a rounded, pure, fresh Chardonnay with ample charm.
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Wine Spectator
Shows lemon sorbet, tangerine juice and pomelo flavors on a juicy and sleek frame. Details of ginger, lemongrass and lemon verbena add aromatic pop, with touches of crunchy sea salt, shortbread and white flowers for an air of elegance. Drink now. 1,100 cases made.
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
Home to a diverse array of smaller AVAs with varied microclimates and soil types, Sonoma County has something for every wine lover. Physically twice as large as Napa Valley, the region only produces about half the amount of wine but boasts both tremendous quality and variety. With its laid-back atmosphere and down-to-earth attitude, the wineries of Sonoma are appreciated by wine tourists for their friendliness and approachability. The entire county intends to become a 100% sustainable winegrowing region by 2019.
Sonoma County wines are produced with carefully selected grape varieties to reflect the best attributes of their sites—Dry Creek Valley’s consistent sunshine is ideal for Zinfandel, while the warm Alexander Valley is responsible for rich, voluptuous red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are important throughout the county, most notably in the cooler AVAs of Russian River, Sonoma Coast and Carneros. Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Syrah have also found a firm footing here.