Winemaker Notes
This is a classically made Chardonnay with a lively mineral profile and alluring freshness derived from the maritime influence of the Sonoma Coast. Enjoy the floral character and the zesty hints of lime, which are rounded out by a creamy texture in the mid-palate.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Starting with the 2018 Chardonnay Cuvee Number Five, which comes all from the Sonoma Coast, this medium-hued effort offers a rich yet also fresh nose of stone fruits, honeyed minerality, Meyer lemons, and citrus pith. Still young and unevolved, with medium to full-bodied richness and bright acidity, it’s a beautiful wine that needs 2-3 years of bottle age and will drink nicely over the following decade. Rating: 93+
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James Suckling
A fresh, fruity chardonnay with just a hint of vanilla and cream. Medium body. Attractive, creamy texture. Refined and intense. Delicious finish. Finesse.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2018 Chardonnay Cuvée Number Five is slow to open on the nose, giving up baker's yeast, poached apples, acacia and almonds, then revealing honeyed notions with time. The medium-bodied palate has savory fruits, yeasty accents and a honey-nut finish.
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 vast appellation covering Sonoma County’s Pacific coastline, the Sonoma Coast AVA runs all the way from the Mendocino County border, south to the San Pablo Bay. The region can actually be divided into two sections—the actual coastal vineyards, marked by marine soils, cool temperatures and saline ocean breezes—and the warmer, drier vineyards further inland, which are still heavily influenced by the Pacific but not quite with same intensity.
Contained within the appellation are the much smaller Fort Ross-Seaview and Petaluma Gap AVAs.
The Sonoma Coast is highly regarded for elegant Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and, increasingly, cool-climate Syrah. The wines have high acidity, moderate alcohol, firm tannin, and balanced ripeness.