***BOTTLING LATE JULY, SHIPPING SHORTLY AFTER***
Our hot streak of prestigious finds rolls on – this time courtesy of the coldest corner of Russian River Valley.
Strong coastal influence gives Green Valley its cool-climate edge, where thick fog and slow ripening conditions produce wines that invite comparisons to some of the finest sites in Burgundy. A very small AVA that’s located just next door to West Sonoma Coast, it’s an open secret that various elite producers across the North Coast use their connections here to secure precious grapes for their own signature Chardonnay programs.Today’s gem comes from a vineyard nestled in the Goldridge soils of Green Valley’s southwestern reaches, where fog tends to linger and daytime highs stay lower. That alone would already be ideal, but the terrain here is also hilly, with pockets that hold cool air and slow the ripening curve. Provided with exceptionally long hang times and the opportunity to build extra concentration while preserving acidity, the Chardonnay vines are easily some of the best America has to offer.
Lot 625 | 2025 Green Valley of Russian River Valley Chardonnay is a single-vineyard stunner, planted in a neighborhood with blocks in every direction that produce some of the most highly rated white wine bottlings in California. A prominent estate program that’s one of our source's most anticipated wines every year, this Chard is priced north of $60 a pop direct from the tasting room. Deft, veteran hands executed partial malo to lend a sublime texture, while a combination of French and American oak built a delicate structure and added subtle warmth complementing the classic Green Valley raciness. This specific combination of inputs is literally the template behind some of the most expensive Chardonnays in the RRV, but today the wine is made affordable – we’ve secured it for you at an astonishing price under $20/bottle – that’s nearly 70% OFF!
Our price: $109/6-pack, $18+/bottle!
Another “open secret that wine country mostly keeps quiet” is the broad usage of American oak – while prominent exceptions like Silver Oak and Ridge Monte Bello have built identities around it, most wineries would rather tout French barrels for their subtlety and critic-friendly reputation. But the broader, creamier palate effect of American oak brings its own magic, and serious wine geeks (especially those who comb through tech sheets from top producers) know it’s far more common than the average enthusiast might assume. In this case, our source’s winemaker devised an exquisite oak program: some American, some French, some new, some neutral, and voilà – a masterfully composed Chardonnay that shows what truly separates the best from the rest.
Pouring a golden hue into the glass, the wine opens with a nose that unveils citrus and toast, backed by spiced pears and dried herbs. On entry, a core of stony minerality and brilliantly restrained acidity gives shape to a concentrated palate of golden apples, lemon oils, and subtle coconut. The finish is clean and enduring, displaying uplifted acidity, delicate barrel spice, and citrus accents before exiting with accents of vanilla and white blossoms. Gorgeous.
