2019 Lingua Franca Chardonnay Bunker Hill*

The 2019 Chardonnay Bunker Hill comes from vines planted in 1995 by Joel Myer, who replanted the Seven Springs vineyard that same year. Vines are planted at 600 feet in elevation on a windy, western-facing slope and were in need of rehabbing. A 30-year lease allows Lingua Franca to control all the farming, and with the help of Mimi Casteel, they developed an additional 15 acres around the original vines. "Some people would say rip it out and replant it," winemaker Thomas Savre explains. "My team and I wanted to curate it, bring it back to life. So we said let's do selection massale and replant all the components. We extended the original vineyard with 13 clones of Chardonnay, just randomly planted." The Bunker Hill has a layered perfume with scents of white peach, quince, jasmine, beeswax and mushroom. The medium-bodied palate is particularly expressive, with fantastic depth of flavor and expansive savory layers. It has racy, energetic acidity and a touch of texture that extends the finish.