The rich and bold, New World-style Moniker Chardonnay was made primarily from grapes grown at La Ribera, our family’s home vineyard along the banks of the Russian River. After gently pressing a combination of whole-cluster and de-stemmed grapes, we fermented and aged portions of the wine three months sur lie in American oak barrels and stainless steel. This base served as a sturdy, complex framework with signature Asian pear-apple and crisp mineral flavors. We then blended in a stainless steel fermented Chardonnay from a warm tropical site near Ukiah and a barrel fermented vibrant cool climate mineral driven Chardonnay from northern Potter Valley. The tension between the diverse vineyard sites tempered by balanced oak showcases a decadent display of Mendocino’s best Chardonnay.