Winemaker Notes
The 2022 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay opens with enticing aromas of crisp apple, lemon zest, and a hint of citrus blossom. The palate is ripe and vibrant, offering layers of citrus and stone fruit flavors, complemented by a touch of flint. The finish is bright and refreshing, with a lingering note of minerality.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Clean and mineral driven, the nose of this wine gives aromas of tangerine, lemon peel, river rocks and fresh white flowers. The palate has a bright streak of citrusy acidity, with flavors of Meyer lemon and pomelo that linger and mingle with barrel spice for a moment on the finish.
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Wine Spectator
A robust version, with focus to the lemon, grilled pineapple and apple pastry flavors. Strikes a balance between a supple, creamy frame and crisp, vivid acidity. Details of nutmeg, oolong tea and cedar come in on the finish, lingering effortlessly.
WALT is dedicated to the production of premier Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the Pacific Coast's most distinctive vineyard sites, spanning nearly 1000 miles and including Sta. Rita Hills, Sonoma County, Anderson Valley, and the Willamette Valley. Their philosophy is that of precision, non-interventionist winemaking, thereby allowing the wines to naturally and honestly express the character of the site where the wines are grown. Under the artisanship of Director of Winemaking Steve Leveque and Winemaker Megan Gunderson, WALT Wines will continue to evolve and develop.
Located in the heart of Sonoma, just off the historic Sonoma Plaza, WALT Wines focuses on sourcing Pinot Noir fruit from premiere appellations stretching from Oregon's Willamette Valley to the Santa Rita Hills in California to craft the finest wines possible.
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.