2017 Estate Chardonnay

The 2017 Chardonnay Estate Vineyard is a dense, packed wine. Apricot, orange peel, mint, butter and exotic floral notes emerge, but only with great reluctance. Readers will need to give the 2017 at least a year or two in bottle to unwind. This is an especially potent, savory style, with a ton of phenolic intensity.

The 2017 Chardonnay Estate Vineyard was barrel fermented and aged 12 months on the lees in 33% new oak. It has a singular nose of dashi, saline, crushed shell and lime peel touches with white peaches, dried flowers, iodine and cut hay. Medium-bodied, it absolutely explodes in the mouth with layers of ripe fruits, savory notions, citrus, flowers and a tangy mineral streak, with laser-like acidity and a very long, evolving and energetic finish. An incredible, unique wine. 740 cases produced.

The 2017 Chardonnay DuMOL Estate Vineyard comes from vines planted in sandy soils and is a mix of Hyde Wente and Mount Eden clones. It offers rock star notes of tart peach, citrus, and salty mineral and earthy notes in a focused, chiseled, crisp style. With terrific concentration and an almost red wine-like level of structure, it’s not for near-term drinking and needs a good 3-4 years of bottle age.