Winemaker Notes
Wingtine Chardonnay is named after the specialized wing tine shank used to cultivate Goldridge soil, including Radio-Coteau's own Estate farm. By lifting and fracturing the soil vertically and horizontally, this specialized wing-shaped plow reduces tractor passes, while maintaining soil structure and integrating sustainable farming practices. Since 2017, the Wingtine Chardonnay comprises a neighborly blend of biodynamically grown fruit from the Estate and organically grown fruit from the Heintz Ranch.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2021 Chardonnay Wingtine was raised in a combination of concrete and stainless steel tanks with used barrels. Ripe green pear, melon rind, and lime blossoms lift from the glass, followed by a medium bodied white with good depth, a soft texture, and notes of rocky earth, ripe yellow apple, and green almond. Drink 2024-2030.
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Vinous
The 2021 Chardonnay Wingtine is brilliant and finely cut from the outset. Hints of apricot, orange peel, mint and sweet spice lend an exotic flair to this delicate yet deeply flavored, perfumed Chardonnay. The Wingtine is a blend of Heintz and SeaBed done partly in cement, with no new wood.
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.