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Cristaldi Scores

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2023

Dutcher Crossing

Chenoweth Vineyard Chardonnay

A light, zesty, and tropical Chardonnay offering notes of quince, salted lemon peel, and candied pineapple. The creamy mid-palate adds texture and depth, leading to a stony, sea-salt–tinged finish. This 100% Chardonnay from the Russian River Valley was barrel-fermented with native yeast, underwent full malolactic fermentation, and aged 11 months in one one-year-old French oak barrel and one used French oak barrel. Debra Mathay purchased Dutcher Crossing in 2007, and it now produces more than thirty wines from Sonoma, Napa, and Mendocino counties, farming 75 acres of estate vineyards.

2023

Elaine Wines

Calypte Vineyard Chardonnay

Tasting the two Elaine Chardonnays from Calypte Vineyard provides a visual lesson in vintages—2022 was hot, 2023 was cool. The 2022 shows a deep golden hue, while the 2023 glows lemon-gold with hints of emerald shimmer. The 2023 vintage is leaner and brighter, driven by high-toned acidity that initially commands attention but soon reveals layers of lemon, lime, white florals, and tangerine oil beneath. Sourced from the winemaker’s estate vineyard, the Chardonnay was hand-harvested, barrel-fermented with indigenous yeast, and aged 17 months sur lie in 40% new French oak with bâtonnage before being bottled unfiltered. Established in 2017 by Elaine and Mark Sale, Elaine Wines produces fewer than 200 cases annually.

2023

Eleven Eleven

Calesa Vineyard Chardonnay

Sourced from Calesa Vineyard, a Petaluma Gap site perched on a high plateau with northwest-facing slopes and soils flecked with gravel and quartz. Musqué Clone 809, fermented with native yeast and native malo, then aged 15 months in 30% new French oak. Absolutely riveting on the nose, with tangerine peel, orange essence, honeysuckle, and pineapple crème brûlée. All of that comes together on the palate, where more tropical fruit emerges alongside a creamy mid-palate richness and lingering exotic spice. All fruit is night-picked, whole-cluster pressed, given a two-day settle, then treated with a small sulfur adjustment before native-yeast fermentation. Some lots underwent native malolactic fermentation. Bâtonnage starts with more frequent stirring and tapers off as the wines age. Bottled unfiltered and unfined.

2023

Ferrari-Carano

Reserve Chardonnay

The Reserve is sourced from estate fruit in Los Carneros. The grapes are whole-cluster pressed to stainless steel and cold settled before being racked to French oak (30% new) for fermentation and nine months of sur-lie aging with full malolactic. This is a refined, polished wine—not at all bombastic in its oak profile. The oak shows more like a delicate blondie or light graham-cracker crust, gently framing silky citrus fruit, grilled pineapple sprinkled with black sea salt, and ripe pear layered with honeycomb and butterscotch caramel. All that richness builds on the palate—something of a surprise, as the nose doesn’t hint at the depth to come. The finish is long and super toasty. A meal of a wine unto itself.

2023

Fisher Vineyards

Mountain Estate Vineyard Chardonnay

Fragrant lemon zest rises from the glass, nuanced by stony minerality and buttered croissant. Medium-bodied, it offers a wealth of creamy apricot and lemon biscuit flavors, with hints of quince paste and lively lemon-acid tension. Planted in 1999, Fisher’s Mountain Estate Vineyard Chardonnay is rooted in steep, rocky soils at 1,300 feet of elevation. Native fermented and aged for 18 months in French oak barrels (28% new). No sulfites were added at harvest or during aging. Bottled unfined and unfiltered. Founded in 1973 by Fred and Juelle Fisher, this second-generation family winery sources from estate vineyards in Sonoma County and Napa Valley.

2023

Fisher Vineyards

UNITY Chardonnay

This 100% Chardonnay was barrel-aged for 18 months in French oak (12.5% new) on primary lees, with native malolactic fermentation. Ripe orchard fruit builds in the glass, followed by apple and pear pastry, white flowers, and wildflower honey. Medium-bodied, the wine gains richness with layers of lemon and tangerine oil, balanced by zippy, almost prickly citrus acidity that keeps everything lifted even as the oily fruit deepens in weight. It’s a meal unto itself. Founded in 1973 by Fred and Juelle Fisher, this second-generation family winery sources from estate vineyards in Sonoma County and Napa Valley.

2023

Flowers Vineyards & Winery

Sonoma Coast Chardonnay

This 100% Chardonnay was sourced from Flowers’ coastal estate, Camp Meeting Ridge, along with several other family-owned vineyards in the Sonoma Coast. Aged for 10 months in 18% new French oak. This is a gentle giant of a Chardonnay, opening with delicate aromatics of lemon oil, Marcona almonds, pressed white florals, and a hint of honeycomb, before building terrific intensity on the palate with laser-focused acidity. The flavors show both breadth and depth—beguiling and persistent—balanced by stony minerality, pressed wildflowers, and crunchy apple, followed by richer yet slightly underripe pineapple notes. It finishes with a long, saline-driven acidity. A great wine—just get some. Helmed by longtime winemaker, Chantal Forthun, Flowers produces a limited amount of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from estate vineyards on the edge of the Pacific in addition to their signature wines from the Sonoma Coast.

2023

Gary Farrell Winery

Chardonnay

This 100% Chardonnay is blended from several vineyard sources that highlight the diversity and depth of the Russian River Valley. Aged for 10 months on primary lees in 30% new French oak. It isn’t shy with its oak use, but it’s beautifully integrated. The wine opens with aromas that transport you to a French bakery—lavish butter croissant and toasty brioche notes abound. Beneath that lies a wealth of citrus, lemon oil, lemon curd, and crème brûlée, all adding a sense of sweetness before finishing crisp, bone-dry, and marked by a welcome saline acid tension. Gary Farrell Winery has been a pioneer of the Russian River Valley wine scene for over 40 years.

2023

Hunnicutt

Richard Dinner Vineyard Chardonnay

From Richard Dinner Vineyard, a site long sourced by Paul Hobbs. The berries here are tiny, and they deliver a great deal of concentration and richness. The higher percentage of new French oak brings everything into balance, folding in sweet French-pastry and buttered-brioche notes that culminate in a full-bodied richness on the palate and a long, toasty finish. All night-picked, whole-cluster pressed, given a two-day settle, then treated with a small sulfur adjustment before native-yeast fermentation. Some lots underwent native malolactic fermentation. Bâtonnage starts with more frequent stirring and tapers off as the wines age in roughly 60% new French oak for 15 months. Bottled unfiltered and unfined.

2023

Implicit

Avidity Chardonnay

Sourced from Calesa Vineyard, a Petaluma Gap site perched on a high plateau with northwest-facing slopes and soils flecked with gravel and quartz. This is quite pretty — a flinty, mineral-driven wine interwoven with citrus peel and salinity, elegant cedarwood spice, and a cool acid crunch. Ripe yellow apple and pear join crushed Marcona almonds, a hint of vanilla, and good phenolic grip. Clone Dijon 76 — fragrant and laser-focused. Just gorgeous. Venge and team produce only about 150 cases of this barrel-fermented Chardonnay, made with native yeast and native malo, aged 15 months in 40% new French oak. All night-picked, whole-cluster pressed, given a two-day settle, then treated with a small sulfur adjustment before native-yeast fermentation. Some lots underwent native malolactic fermentation. Bâtonnage starts with more frequent stirring and tapers off as the wines age. Bottled unfiltered and unfined.

2023

Koehler Winery

John Sebastiano Vineyard Chardonnay

Sourced from John Sebastiano Vineyard, a site planted across steep, wind-exposed slopes with a mix of sandy loam, clay loam, and pockets of diatomaceous earth—soils and aspects that create naturally low yields and concentrated fruit—this Chardonnay is native-yeast fermented in barrel and aged 24 months in 50% new oak. The oak presents vividly, offering a rich, toasty profile that builds in the glass before giving way to lemon curd and butterscotch. It’s incredibly rich and unabashedly ripe, showing caramel-drizzled candied citrus rind, tangerine, tangerine oil, and warm ginger spice. Yet it’s a bit of a chameleon: a current of zesty acidity rises through all that silky richness, bringing the wine into balance.

2023

Kosta Browne

Bootlegger’s Hill Chardonnay

Sourced entirely from Hyde clone at the Bootlegger’s Hill Vineyard, whole-cluster pressed and 100% barrel-fermented, then aged 11 months in 33% new French oak followed by 7 months in stainless steel before bottling. The nose is super rich, showing lemon curd, apple, lemon peel, candied ginger and sea-spray minerality, with a kiss of vanilla and an ultra-salty wet-slate character. Ginger spice and candied lemon peel carry onto the palate, which has excellent mid-weight richness and a long, spice-driven finish. Totally captivating and delicious—beautifully balanced.

2023

Kosta Browne

Chablis Premier Cru Chardonnay

Sourced from Premier Cru vineyards—Fourchaume and Vosgros, a small site on the northern side of the appellation. Aged for 11 months in 5% new French oak. This is a beautifully crafted white wine with a creamy mid-palate richness and a lingering Marcona almond character. White flowers, tangerine peel and lemon verbena add intrigue and complexity, while the finish is soft and carried by ripe orchard fruit with excellent mineral tension stretching through the length. The 2024 vintage was hit hard by hail, so there will be no 2024 bottling—stock up on this while you can.

2023

Kosta Browne

El Diablo Chardonnay

Whole clusters were pressed directly and the wine was 100% barrel-fermented, then aged for 12 months in 32% new French oak and a further 6 months in stainless steel before bottling. Sourced from the El Diablo Vineyard along the eastern rim of the Russian River Valley, this is a wonderfully precise white wine with tangerine oil, white peach, yellow apple and poached pear. The mid-palate is luscious, creamy and silky, revealing decadent French-pastry and buttered-croissant notes, followed by a fabulous sea-salt finish. There is more richness here than in past years—and it’s a welcome evolution. These wines are beautifully balanced; Julien Howsepian is doing excellent work.

2023

Kosta Browne

One-Sixteen Chardonnay

Fermented entirely in barrel with no whole cluster and aged for 12 months in 34% new French oak. Vineyard sources include Zio Tony, Lone Oak, Ritchie, Keefer Ranch, Bootlegger’s Hill, El Diablo, Charles Ranch, and Bob’s Ranch. The wine is incredibly rich and layered, with lemon peel, fresh lemon and ripe apple mingling with toasty oak spices, candied ginger and crushed almonds. A lovely saline minerality accents the palate. Medium to full-bodied with excellent mid-palate weight, it finishes quite crisp. Subtle notes of French pastry and oyster-shell minerality weave throughout. Truly captivating.

2023

La Velentía

Blanc de Blancs

This 100% Chardonnay comes from two vineyards—Texas Hills in Johnson City (Texas Hill Country AVA) and Certenberg Vineyard in Pontotoc, Texas. Picked on the early side to preserve natural acidity, it underwent bâtonnage for three months before bottling. Made in the pét-nat style but sterile-filtered before secondary fermentation and bottled under crown cap, the wine is light, bright, and crisp, showing orchard fruit notes and a frothy, gentle mousse that’s pleasantly soft rather than aggressive. It has great texture and a clean, vibrant finish. Crafted by winemaker Rae Wilson, with support from Tony Offill.

2023

Landmark Vineyards and Marchelle

Lot #31. 'A Lorenzo Legacy' Lorenzo Vineyard Chardonnay

Poured by Greg Stach and Greg La Follette themselves at the 2025 Sonoma County Barrel Auction, this one-off Chardonnay is pure Sonoma history in the making. Bright and zesty, it shows citrus, brown spice, honeyed lemon and fresh ginger, with a medium-bodied frame, lovely mid-palate density and a long, slate-driven mineral finish. A singular, never-to-be-repeated collaboration that captures the soul of Lorenzo Vineyard with clarity, energy and depth.

2023

Landmark Vineyards

Starr Ridge Vineyard Chardonnay

Banana, white peach, pear, white flowers, and fragrant cedar wood lead the way in this balanced, medium-bodied Chardonnay, with the same fruit and cedar spice carrying through on the palate. It’s a pleasantly coaxing wine with a graceful mix of richness and lift. The Starr Ridge Vineyard is planted to the Montrachet selection (clone) of Chardonnay, prized for producing high-quality wines from its low-yielding grapes. The wine was whole-cluster pressed and barrel-fermented with native yeast, then aged for 13 months in French oak (30% new).

2023

Liquid Farm

Golden Slope Chardonnay

The Golden Slope Chardonnay—sourced from Rita’s Crown, Hilltop, Clos Pepe, Spear, and Kessler-Haak—is native fermented and aged up to 16 months in mostly puncheons, with about 15% new French oak. Founder Jeff Nelson notes that the barrel program plays a vital role in leveraging the muscularity of their whites, particularly in this bottling. The 2023 vintage is among the most focused expressions of Golden Slope in recent memory. It’s as gorgeously layered and fragrant as ever, bursting with lemon and lime zest, apricot, and tangerine oil, framed by supple, juicy fruit and laser-focused saline-acid tension. The finish is long, detailed, and expressive, with crushed Marcona almonds and a hint of honeycomb richness.

2023

Liquid Farm

White Hill Chardonnay

The 2023 White Hill Chardonnay—named in homage to Chablis and the diatomaceous soils of the Sta. Rita Hills—is native fermented and aged for 11 months in a mix of neutral barrels and large-format French barriques (with zero new oak). It showcases exceptional depth and drive thanks to the long, cool growing season. Fruit is sourced from some of the AVA’s most iconic sites: Hilltop, Kessler-Haak, Clos Pepe, Spear, and Rita’s Crown. Lemon peel, white apricot, and honeycomb lead the aromatic charge, while the palate is etched with crackling saline-mineral tension. There’s serious mid-palate density, but also thrilling lift—bright lemon-lime acidity, layered white floral notes, and a mouthwatering brininess that lingers through the long, linear finish. It’s one of the most complete and textural White Hill releases to date.

2023

Lombardi

Baer Vineyard Chardonnay

The Baer Vineyard Chardonnay from the Russian River Valley is fermented and aged entirely in terracotta amphora for ten months. Crafted by winemaker Cabell Coursey, it shows wonderfully crisp aromatics—apple skin, a touch of beeswax, Marcona almond, and a hint of sea spray. The texture is velvety with a subtle, almost tannic grip. The palate delivers a deep, flavorful expression of apple, pear, and dried apricot, with a firm hold through the mid-palate and plenty of length on the finish.

2023

Lombardi

Chardonnay

The Lombardi Russian River Valley Chardonnay is sourced entirely from Baer Vineyard in 2023. It’s fully barrel-fermented in French oak and aged for ten months in a mix of 65% Atelier and François Frères barrels and 35% stainless-steel drums. The wine is focused and precise, with citrus and white-flower aromatics, candied quince, and pretty cedarwood notes. Crisp and tension-driven on the medium-bodied palate.

2023

Lombardi

Chardonnay

This Clone 15 Chardonnay comes from Baer Vineyard in the Russian River Valley. The fruit is pressed off the skins quickly, then fermented in a mix of stainless steel and French oak, with very little new wood, and aged for ten months in Atelier and François Frères barrels. The wine shows vivid aromatics of candied ginger and elegant cedarwood, building into green apple and pear with a squeeze of lemon. Satiny textures and a well-balanced line of tension frame the palate. Crafted by winemaker Cabell Coursey and owned by Christine and Tony Lombardi.

2023

Longboard Vineyards

Rochioli Vineyard Chardonnay

Longboard’s 2023 Russian River Valley Rochioli Vineyard Chardonnay is 100% Clone 76, native fermented, and aged on the lees for six months before being bottled unfined. It’s noticeably crisper and more fruit-driven than the 2024 vintage, offering bright notes of lemon, lemon peel, lime blossom, tangerine oil, and chamomile. Like the 2024, it’s full-bodied and full-flavored, brimming with lemon curd and tropical fruit, showing fine concentration and balance. A lingering thread of salinity and subtle toasty oak spice rounds out the finish.

2023

Longoria Wines

Chardonnay

A perfect snapshot of Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay, this bottling from Longoria opens with a Meyer lemon–infused bouquet that sets the tone for what follows. On the medium- to full-bodied palate, fragrant notes of candied ginger and quince unfold with round, rich texture and silky phenolics. The finish is long and mouthwatering, laced with salted candied lemon peel and a gentle dusting of fragrant baking spices. Just dazzling.

2023

Lucie

Sun Chase Vineyard Chardonnay

This is a crunchy, bright and vivid Chardonnay, with elegant lemon and lime fruit, under-ripe white peach, apricot and green apple — a sort of fruit salad, yet wonderfully vivid and refreshing. The mid-palate is rounded with good depth of apricot flavor and richly integrated cedarwood notes. The oak is never obvious; it is more structural than overt. The 2023 Lucie Chardonnay comes from Sun Chase Vineyard, Block 7 — a steep, north-west-facing site. The fruit is night-picked, whole-cluster pressed, given a two-day settle, then treated with a small sulfur adjustment before native-yeast fermentation. Some lots undergo native malolactic fermentation. Bâtonnage begins with more frequent stirring and tapers as the wines age for 15 months in roughly 40% new French oak. The wine is bottled unfiltered and unfined.

2023

Lumen

Goodchild Vineyard Chardonnay

Sourced from Wente clone Chardonnay, this small-production wine (just 125 cases) was fermented in stainless steel and aged for six months in neutral oak. Exotic aromas of mango, papaya, and white peach mingle with lemon zest and zesty ginger. Medium-bodied and supple, the palate is energized by racy acidity, allowing the vivid tropical and stone fruits to gain depth and complexity. The finish is long and textural, framed by chalky minerality and a flourish of pressed white flowers.

2023

Macauley Vineyard

Bacigalupi Vineyard Chardonnay

Fermented and aged in stainless steel, concrete egg and neutral French oak, this wine was aged sur lees and did not undergo malolactic fermentation. As such, it is super bright and zesty, though you’d be hard-pressed to guess there’s no malo, as it shows real richness and depth — perhaps thanks to the Old Wente clones. Citrus fruit, white flowers, beeswax and vanilla unfold with great length and lovely wet-stone mineral tension. Really lovely.

2023

Marbeso

Spear Vineyard Chardonnay

From the Spear Vineyard, this Chardonnay is layered with signature traits of the site: rich honeycomb, overripe lemon, and crushed Marcona almonds. On the palate, it’s textured and expressive, with subtle apple skin tannins framing flavors of yellow apple, ripe pear, and warm baking spices. The wine carries through to a lengthy, beautifully bright finish.

2023

Marchelle Wines

Lorenzo Vineyard Chardonnay

This 100% Chardonnay was made with native yeasts, whole-cluster pressed, and aged for 19 months in 20% new French oak. Sourced from Lorenzo Vineyard—a site planted in 1973 and renowned for its naturally rich fruit, minerality, and vibrant acidity—the wine is generous and toasty, with a creamy, buttery texture. Wet stone minerality provides restraint and lift on the palate before the wine builds again in intensity, finishing long and bold with lingering notes of butterscotch. Founded in 2021, Marchelle is a collaboration between winemaker Greg La Follette and co-founder Kevin Lee (a Silicon Valley brand builder turned vintner), named in honor of their wives (Mara and Michelle).

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2022

Producer

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Sourced entirely from Ritchie Vineyard and crafted from Old Wente Clone Chardonnay, this wine is fermented with native yeast and aged 11 months in 27% new French oak, followed by two months in stainless steel barrels before bottling. The bouquet is stunning—bursting from the glass with expressive aromas of baked citrus, orchard fruit, honeysuckle, and jasmine, all layered with the richness of buttery French pastry and crème brûlée. On the palate, all that opulence comes together beautifully, with lemon laced in wildflower honey and toasty wood tones building to a crescendo on the long, candied-mineral finish. Domaine de la Rivière is a family-owned winery nestled in the renowned Middle Reach neighborhood of the Russian River Valley. Growers since 2011, they released their first vintage in 2017.

2022

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All you really need to know about this Rita’s Crown Chardonnay is that one glass will never be enough. You’ll swirl, sniff, sip—and suddenly want to chase its magic for days. It holds the energy of a late afternoon thunderstorm, with a moody edge and an electrically zesty palate, like a raincloud squeezing out lemon juice, shifting to lemon oil, then unleashing waves of fresh and candied ginger. It splashes across the palate like rain on slick slate—slightly smoky from the first drops hitting warm stone. Irresistible, complex, and utterly compelling. You just can’t get enough of this structured, dynamic, and gorgeous Chardonnay. It lives on the far side of “delicious”—a word we haven’t invented yet, but one that would mean delicious multiplied by infinity.

2022

Producer

Name

The golden hue hints at what’s to come—a ripe, toasty, and voluminous Chardonnay layered with crème brûlée, charred pineapple, salted lemon peel, and rosemary-herbed almonds. Despite its richness, the palate retains a refreshing coolness from lively acid tension, finishing lip-smackingly bone dry. Quite a wine. Sourced from the winemaker’s estate vineyard, the Chardonnay was hand-harvested, barrel-fermented, and aged 15 months sur lie in 50% new French oak with bâtonnage before being bottled unfiltered. Established in 2017 by Elaine and Mark Sale, Elaine Wines produces fewer than 200 cases annually.

2022

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A generous and expressive Chardonnay from the famed Sangiacomo Vineyards, it opens with buttered croissant and yellow apple before gaining momentum and complexity on the medium-bodied palate. Layers of unctuous stone fruit, charred pineapple, and lemon-lime acid tension support the ripe, succulent fruit profile and all that toasty, buttery oak goodness. This Chardonnay is sourced from two Sangiacomo family vineyards: Roberts Road Vineyard in the Petaluma Gap, where fog and wind keep temperatures cool, and Green Acres Vineyard in Sonoma Carneros, which benefits from the marine influence of San Francisco Bay. Aged for 11 months in French oak barrels (30% new).

2022

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Name

This 100% Chardonnay comes from two blocks within the Rocchioli-Allen Vineyard, an iconic site planted just south of the Rochioli Vineyard. Aged for 10 months in 35% new French oak. It’s a full-throttle Chardonnay brimming with toasty brioche and salted lemon peel, layered with apricot, white peach, and charred pineapple on the palate. For all its richness, the wine retains excellent, cooling acidity—a hallmark of this exceptional site. Gary Farrell Winery has been a pioneer of the Russian River Valley wine scene for over 40 years.

2022

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Name

Located near the Laguna de Santa Rosa, the Lorenzo Vineyard is the coldest Chardonnay site from which Landmark sources fruit each vintage. Whole-cluster-pressed and barrel-fermented with native yeast, the wine is then aged for 14 months in 100% French oak (35% new). It boasts an impressively bold nose of overripe citrus, toasted almonds and custard, while the palate tightens with citrus-driven, saline mineral tension. The finish is expressive, carrying toasty and nutty notes that linger with real authority.

2022

Producer

Name

Packs a punch of butterscotch and toffee, crème brûlée, and candied peach rings, with a palate-coating, toasty richness that carries through the long, oak-kissed finish. This is no shy Chardonnay—bold, creamy, and unapologetically hedonistic—yet beneath all the luxurious oak, the ripe orchard and tropical-leaning Sangiacomo fruit still shines through. It’s not a wine for the Chardonnay faint of heart or for anyone seeking Chablis; this is Chassagne-Montrachet on steroids. The 2022 Sangiacomo Chardonnay is sourced from grapes grown at the Kiser Vineyard off Arnold Drive in the cool, windy Sonoma Carneros AVA, just north of San Pablo Bay. Whole-cluster pressed and barrel-fermented with native yeast, the wine was aged in French oak (35% new).

2022

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Name

The nice thing about the OTTO Line is that the tasting notes are right there on the label. It’s a medium-bodied wine offering juicy pear, a squeeze of lemon zest, and crushed almonds—at least according to the front label, and I’d agree wholeheartedly, though I’d also add white flowers to the mix. There’s a touch of candied ginger and a wonderfully warm, saline mineral quality. The label also notes that the wine is made from sustainably grown grapes and contains no added sugar, which is perhaps more a nod to consumer misunderstanding—most wines are dry and don’t contain added sugar to begin with, but that’s a whole other conversation for another time.

2022

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Name

Sourced from Wente and Mt. Eden clones in Durell Vineyard, this Chardonnay offers lovely, ripe, and succulent orchard fruit notes softened by aging in one-third new French oak and neutral oak puncheon, giving the wine a beautifully silky, satiny texture. The oak profile is balanced and subtle, weaving a tapestry of elegant cedar spice around understated tropical fruit tones of white peach, pineapple, and overripe pear. Fine apple-skin tannins carry a gentle sprinkling of salinity, and the wine finishes with excellent energy and length.

2022

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Expressive orchard fruit lifts from the glass in this single-vineyard Hawk Hill Chardonnay from the Sonoma Coast. It’s almost impossible not to swallow—it vibrates with energy and tension the moment it hits the palate, in a way that’s unmatched by many Chardonnays from this region. While it reflects a stylistic shift taking hold here, this wine is refined, lively, bright, and focused. Citrus spray, apple, and pear fruit come through, with even a touch of apple-skin tannin, but what makes it so crushable is the salinity. It’s like liquified Pink Himalayan sea salt—super expressive and monumentally delicious. The vineyard is “nestled in the confluence of the Green Valley and Freestone sub-AVA’s, where Salmon Creek and Russian River watershed meet,” according to Marine Layer’s technical sheet. Grapes are whole cluster direct to press and cold settled overnight. Ferments in concrete egg and neutral oak puncheon. Spontaneous malolactic fermentation. Some lees stirring, and aged 11 months, bottled unfined and lightly filtered.

2022

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Name

Stylistically similar to the estate Vineyard Milea BDX Red Blend, this wine leans darker, with forest berry fruit, conifer, and cedarwood spice. Medium- to full-bodied, it delivers supple, juicy dark fruit layered with a touch of salty dark chocolate and lifted by blood orange acidity. The finish is long, expressive, and remarkably fresh.

2022

Producer

Name

Harvested just after midnight to preserve freshness, this white was made with precision and intention—sourced from the north-facing side of the vines to enhance its lean, mineral character. Inspired by the wines of Southern Burgundy, it was whole-cluster pressed, barrel-fermented in neutral French oak, and aged sur lie for six months. A Burgundian yeast strain was used to further emulate the region’s style. The result is a mineral-driven wine bursting with peach, pear, and yellow apple. The palate showcases pure stone fruit flavors with a refined, almost delicate elegance. -JR

2022

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The 2022 Samsara Chardonnay hails from Francesca Vineyard, a windswept, seven-acre site on the far western edge of the Sta. Rita Hills, where sandy-loam soils and full Pacific exposure yield intensely concentrated fruit. Aromatically, it lifts from the glass like a perfectly buttered bowl of popcorn—rich with caramel, smoky toasted oak, and butter croissant notes. Despite the decadent nose, the palate is more focused and linear, with plenty of mid-palate richness layered with baking spices. Bright lemony acidity keeps it taut, balanced by citrus oil richness—think lemon and tangerine—finishing with salted, toasted almonds. A bold, generous expression of Chardonnay from this extreme coastal site.

2022

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From Durell Vineyard. The sandhill at the top of this site isn’t sand at all but diatomaceous earth, and Gaffner works with three clones planted there: Wente, See, and Rued. The nose is intensely mineral, with a chalky edge, salted Marcona almonds, flinty notes, and well-measured toasty oak spice. The palate has real depth and flavor, showing apricot, white peach, pear, and yellow apple, all carried by a saline-toned minerality. A touch of lemon-cream lift comes through on the finish, a hallmark of Gaffner’s long, slow, cool fermentation with malolactic completing later.

2022

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From Durell, Sangiacomo’s Green Acres, and Catarina, where they work with a unique Chardonnay selection that reminds Jeff Gaffner of Riesling. The wine is barrel-fermented long and cool, with malolactic held back until the following spring; he stirs the lees through winter before allowing ML to finish naturally. The result is a layered, deeply textural Chardonnay with a complex, nuanced oak profile and impressive acid freshness. Extremely ripe quince, candied ginger, and a touch of saline drive the finish. Just dynamite.

2022

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Sangiacomo’s Green Acres Hill Vineyard in Carneros, planted entirely to Wente clone, yields a highly aromatic Chardonnay with a lift of lemon-cream foam that expands across the palate. Subtle tropical fruit richness and a thread of apricot follow, joined by beautifully integrated cedarwood and a clean, wet-slate minerality. The finish is laser-focused and long. A super expressive, multidimensional wine from winemaker Jeff Gaffner.

Vintage

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2022

2022 Domaine de la Rivière Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay

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2022

2022 Dragonette Rita’s Crown Vineyard Chardonnay

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2022

2022 Elaine Wines Calypte Vineyard Chardonnay

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2022

2022 Flambeaux Wine Sangiacomo Vineyards Chardonnay

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2022

2022 Gary Farrell Winery Rochioli-Allen Vineyards Chardonnay

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2022

2022 Landmark Vineyards Lorenzo Chardonnay

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2022

2022 Landmark Vineyards Sangiacomo Chardonnay

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2022

2022 Maren (Bybee Wine Co) Otto Chardonnay

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2022

2022 Marine Layer Durell Vineyard Chardonnay

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2022

2022 Marine Layer Hawk Hill Vineyard Chardonnay

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$$

2022

2022 Milea Estate Vineyard Vincenza Reserve BDX Blend

Still Wine

$

2022

2022 Pruett Burgundian Chardonnay

Still Wine

$

2022

2022 Samsara Francesca Vineyard Chardonnay

Still Wine

N/A

2022

2022 Saxon Brown Durell Vineyard Chardonnay

Still Wine

$$

2022

2022 Saxon Brown ETRE Chardonnay

Still Wine

$$

2022

2022 Saxon Brown Green Acres Hill Vineyard Chardonnay

Still Wine

$

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