Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
This is an opulent expression of Chardonnay grown in alluvial soils tended with great care by a producer long known for its commitment to organics, biodynamics, and regenerative farming. The aromas are baked pear and yellow apples laced with Meyer lemon ginger, acacia honey, and good acidity on the finish.
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James Suckling
Honeysuckle, nutmeg, Meyer lemons and crisp golden apples on the nose. A plush, medium-bodied mouthfeel with fresh acidity, gentle creaminess and a clean finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.
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Jeb Dunnuck
A small-production wine from two estate blocks, the 2023 Chardonnay The Roost Blue Heron Vineyard opens in a perfumed waft of magnolia and honeysuckle. The medium-bodied weight of the wine is given additional heft from lightly toasted barrels used during fermentation and aging, the acidity well-preserved and softened, livening up layers of apple and pear fruit seasoned in baking spice.
Organically farmed and masterfully crafted, Bonterra Organic Vineyards epitomizes wines that are perfectly in tune with nature. A celebration of farm-fresh flavors, the portfolio features wines coaxed from the earth by careful farming practices carried out on a dynamic network of estate and partner farms throughout California. In addition to a widely available collection of organically farmed wines that includes Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Equinox Red and Rosé, Bonterra crafts a trio of sought-after single-vineyard offerings from estate Biodynamic® vineyards in Mendocino County, and The Elysian Collection Merlot, an elevated offering from organic grapes.
Long before organic produce filled the shelves of neighborhood groceries, the dedicated team at Bonterra was committed to organic and Biodynamic® farming because they passionately believe that farms teeming with biodiversity—encompassing vines, insects and wildlife, and healthy soils—yield organic grapes leading to better wines. Whether supporting the health of honeybees with hive housing in its organic vineyards, trading tractors for sheep to maintain vineyards during the winter months, or giving back to the future of agriculture through educational outreach and shared knowledge, Bonterra strives to leave behind a legacy of thoughtful winegrowing inspired by the potential of nature itself.
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.
A large and diverse appellation within California’s North Coast AVA, Mendocino is home to several smaller sub-regions—most notably the Anderson Valley. This scenic region, with rolling hills covered in redwood forests as well as vineyards, is one of the world’s top producers of certified organically-grown grapes. Due to wide geographical and climatic variation, a vast array of wine styles can be found here.