Winemaker Notes
The 2019 Wingtine Chardonnay is rounded and succulent, with exciting tension and a youthful freshness. Vivid notes of crisp apple, ripe pear, and yellow citrus highlight mouthwatering acidity that engages the palate. Alluring hints of lemongrass and toasted hazelnut weave amongst softly sweet narcissus and honeysuckle, grounded by a distinguished minerality. The lively yet delicate balance of acid and sweetness on the palate ultimately culminates in a clean, pithy finish that lingers effortlessly.
Professional Ratings
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Wine & Spirits
A blend of Sussman’s young- vine estate fruit and chardonnay from the 1982 Heintz Ranch planting across the road, raised in seasoned oak and concrete eggs, this emphasizes the clarity and elasticity of the fruit, while oak supports the wine without flavoring it. Its herbal scents of lemon balm and comfrey accent orange-oil richness and a lasting savor.
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.