This one's a Sonoma Mountain Chardonnay from a known vineyard site that cannot be named at this price point due to a water-tight contract, with the cost of entry from anyone using the vineyard name on the label of $75/bottle, or $900/case, and ascending from there based on the producer.
However, remove the vineyard name (or, the vineyard's hommage name more rightly) and this fruit can be offered to this list the way I purchased it; for a song. How about $26/bottle?
This classically styled California Chardonnay was grown high on the western ridge in the Sonoma Mountain AVA, rooted to thin volcanic soil, with wind, winter storms, and big summer heat making these vines yield a limited amount of highly-regarded fruit; thick-skinned and highly-concentrated.
Lot 405 is a single-vineyard Chardonnay that was hand harvested at night, inoculated with native yeasts, and 100% barrel fermented in Francois Freres barrels for 9 months with 100% malolactic fermentation to round things out.
Golden on the pour with expressive yellow apples and pineapple up front underpinning pear and crème brûlée haloed by apricots, vanilla, and fresh churned butter. The entry is expertly weighted with vibrant acidity framing lemon blossoms, asian pear, and roasted almonds followed by uplifted baking spices. The finish has incredible length, but a delicate touch throughout; elegant vanilla blossom intertwines with a hint of barrel-kissed spice wrapped around baked, butter-basted apples and pears.
This is truly one of the finest Chardonnays from California and there are only 200 cases of it. A damn fine wine at a damn fine price. Don’t hesitate. Get yours now.
100% Sonoma Mountain Single-Vineyard Sourced Chardonnay
100% Francois Freres French oak barrels, 9 months
100% malolactic fermentation
14.3% alc.
