***BOTTLING LATE APRIL, SHIPPING SHORTLY AFTER***
As a member of this list, you have a front row seat to a rocky and unpredictable moment in our industry.
The first 2024s are appearing on the market, and under normal circumstances, enthusiasm would be flying high – winemakers across Napa and Sonoma are over the moon about the vintage, describing it as another year where all the stars aligned to produce fruit of impeccable quality. However, those on the business side of the wineries are feeling a bit less rosy. Recent US tariffs have led to the closing of entire export markets (the loss of Canada alone accounts for a third of US wine exports and over $1 billion in annual retail sales), and 20% tariffs on Europe have dramatically increased the cost of essential materials with no domestically produced equal alternatives, such as barrels (France) and cork (Portugal). To complicate things further, younger consumers haven’t embraced wine at the same rate as older generations. With rising costs and declining sales, the industry is nervous, to say the least.
Amidst all this uncertainty, wineries are trying to adapt – they’re reevaluating pricing strategies, overhauling wine club models, and more open than ever to cutting deals on previously off-limits wines. Today’s offer is one such deal – our first white wine of the 2024 vintage is a phenomenal Russian River Valley Chardonnay at a stunning price barely over $16/bottle!
Lot 548 is a 100% estate single-vineyard Chardonnay from a Sonoma family that has spent decades amassing “crown jewel” vineyards that are home to some of the most coveted cool-climate terroir in the region. While a handful of very lucky clients have access to their grapes, our source reserves the best blocks for their own label to craft two distinct Chardonnays: one fermented in oak, and a smaller run using a combination of concrete eggs and stainless steel. We’ve acquired the latter – a superb wine with extraordinary fruit quality that boasts fine elements of vanilla and spice. A club exclusive previously unavailable to the public and priced north of $60/bottle, it’s now available to our readers for OVER 70% OFF.
Our price: $99/6-pack, $16+/bottle!
Our source is located in the Green Valley of Russian River – the coldest part of the appellation, where the fog lingers into late morning and there's only a few hours of sunshine before the breeze picks up with the fog creeping back in. Grapes ripen slowly while preserving essential acidity, while the sandy Goldridge soils (renowned for their drainage) force roots deep, resulting in grapes of immense concentration. Expertly tended through 2024’s summer heat, the grapes were hand-harvested at an ideal balance of acidity and sugar before fermentation, producing a sumptuous expression.
Aromatically precise and elegantly composed, the nose emanates layers of yellow apple, white flowers, Meyer lemon zest, and an umami note of mushroom powder. The palate is immediately vibrant, driven by medium+ acidity that carries a focused core of bright citrus, flint, and a delicate spice. The wine glides into a long, refreshing finish, driven by apples, pears, and lemon before culminating in waves of crushed white florals and flecks of vanilla.
