Winemaker Notes
New release 2023 Charles Heintz Vineyard Isobel is a sort of distilled essence of this iconic old vineyard. High in elevation and close to the Pacific coast, there’s a clarity and precision to the light and air up there on the Occidental ridgeline—not to mention a big sky aura—no wonder they've sourced here for over twenty-five years. And so, here they have one of their finest ever efforts in this long run, a wine that perfectly combines intense botanical coastal characters with the oily citrussy depth the vines naturally produce. The wine shimmers and shines, just like the place itself.
The wine’s swirling aromas weave between chamomile, lime, sea spray, and wet stone — they're grassy and fresh but with an underlying concentration. The palate is tangy, oily, and deep, with flavors akin to lemongrass, lemon sherbet, and kiwi. Deep viscous layers develop as the wine expands but are then cut by precise tense acidity that allows the finish to sail on. Drink between 2025 and 2035.
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2023 Chardonnay Isobel Charles Heintz Vineyard was brought in on October 12 and 14, very late by historical standards. It captures all the magic of this site in its oily texture and breadth. Citrus confit, white pepper, flowers and crushed rocks are all beautifully delineated. For readers who want to know what Charles Heintz Chardonnay is all about, this is it!
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Wine Enthusiast
This nimble Chardonnay brings lively aromas of fresh pear, tart pineapple, Meyer lemon zest and lemon balm on the nose, while the palate brings a punch of electric acidity, green energy and flavors of fresh apple, nectarine and pineapple sage with echoes of salty, pithy lemon all along the finish.
Editors' Choice -
Jeb Dunnuck
A medium yellow hue, the 2023 Chardonnay Charles Heintz Vineyard Isobel offers the ripeness and decadence this site captures, though in this vintage, it leans more toward the mineral side, with white peach, salted pineapple, white flowers, and lemon peel citrus. The palate has medium to full-bodied richness, though it has a very elegant feel, with a lovely, savory texture and a long finish. It was aged in cigar-shaped barrels. Drink 2025-2037.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2023 Chardonnay Isobel Charles Heintz Vineyard comes from grapes harvested on October 12 and 14. Matured for 11 months in 23% new French oak cigare barrels, followed by four months in tank, it has slowly unfurling scents of white peach, lemon peel, vanilla custard, pie crust and soft herbal undertones. The medium-bodied palate is satiny and expansive with youthfully flinty flavors. It’s balanced by bright, shimmery acidity and has a long, layered finish. It will benefit from a few years in the cellar.
Raring: 95+ -
Wine Spectator
Starts off with pure fruit flavors of star fruit, lemon and tangerine that are juicy and leap out of the glass, expanding to additional notes of salted Marcona almond, lemon verbena and lemon basil on a fleshy yet vibrant body.
Respect for the land
DuMOL is a “vineyard up” winery with a fully integrated approach to winegrowing and winemaking. DuMOL planted its high-density estate vineyards and has farmed many of California’s most renowned vineyards for more than two decades.
Commitment to craft
DuMOL sticks to what works and is focused on the fundamentals, finding inspiration in master, visionary producers around the world as DuMOL continually hones its craft—never imitating, ever refining.
Connected on a personal level
This is a project that comes from who the DuMOL team is and what they love. A deep connection is paramount: to the land, the wines, and the customers.
Heritage and experience
Founded in 1996, DuMOL is a latter-day pioneer in the Russian River Valley. Winemaker, Viticulturist and Partner, Andy Smith, farmed the region for nearly a decade before joining in 1999, and Associate Winemakers Julie Cooper and Jenna Davis, and Cellar Master Jaime Eufracio, have over 40 years combined experience at DuMOL.
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 standout region for its decidedly Californian take on Burgundian varieties, the Russian River Valley is named for the eponymous river that flows through it. While there are warm pockets of the AVA, it is mostly a cool-climate growing region thanks to breezes and fog from the nearby Pacific Ocean.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir reign supreme in Russian River, with the best examples demonstrating a unique combination of richness and restraint. The cool weather makes Russian River an ideal AVA for sparkling wine production, utilizing the aforementioned varieties. Zinfandel also performs exceptionally well here. Within the Russian River Valley lie the smaller appellations of Chalk Hill and Green Valley. The former, farther from the ocean, is relatively warm, with a focus on red and white Bordeaux varieties. The latter is the coolest, foggiest parcel of the Russian River Valley and is responsible for outstanding Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.