100% Chardonnay – Page 5

Cristaldi Scores

Sort

Vintage

Wine

Sort

Color

Rating

Vintage

Wine

Color

Rating

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.

White

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.

White

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.

White

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.

White

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.

White

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.

White

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.

White

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).

White

2023

Marine Layer

Aries Chardonnay

A friend in the tasting room remarked that this is the kind of wine you’d expect to see poured by the glass at a Michelin three-star like Single Thread. It has a liqueurous, wonderfully rich texture—extremely deep and penetrating on the mid-palate—with uber-ripe pear and apple fruit, almost like poached pear, accented by white florals, crushed almonds, sea salt, and chalky mineral tension. The length is extraordinary—stretching from the tasting room in Healdsburg clear down to the Golden Gate Bridge—and along the way you experience the landscape itself: rolling hills of orchard fruit, wind, fog, and sunshine, all encapsulated in the glass. Try as you might, you will finish this bottle. Sources include vineyards in the Green Valley and Petaluma Gap sub-AVAs, along with Marine Layer Vineyard in the Sebastopol Hills. Native fermentation; 100% malolactic; gentle lees stirring once per month. Aged 11 months, unfined and lightly filtered.

White

2023

McGrail Vineyards

Family Chardonnay

100% barrel-fermented, with roughly 30% new French oak and some Hungarian oak in the mix. This wine is super bright, with layers of lemon oil, toasty brioche, buttered croissant, and candied ginger. Medium- to full-bodied, it delivers a fantastic mouthfeel—rich, weighty citrus fruit balanced by bright, intense acid tension. Winemaker Mark Clarin notes that he inhibits some of the malolactic fermentation, allowing only about 70% to complete, which helps preserve freshness and drive. Fragrant baking spice and vanilla notes weave through the palate, and the finish lingers with terrific mineral intensity. A dynamic, beautifully structured white with serious depth and length.

White

2023

Melville

Estate Chardonnay

The flagship estate Chardonnay is sourced from all four of Melville’s estate ranches. The fruit is harvested overnight and pressed before sunrise into tank, followed by a 24-hour cold settle before being racked to barrel. Fermentation occurs entirely in neutral oak, with the wine aged for eight months prior to bottling. This is a flinty, reductive Chardonnay on the nose, with a candied minerality that lifts its fragrant baking spice character. Layers of Meyer lemon, pear, white peach, and a hint of agave nectar unfold on the palate, all framed by scintillating acidity. The finish is long and complex, marked by crushed Marcona almonds, lime blossoms, and lime zest.

White

2023

Milea Estate Vineyard

Estate Vineyard Unoaked Chardonnay

Fermented in stainless steel with lees stirred every three months over a seven-month period before bottling. The wine offers lemon-lime brightness, white flowers, and crunchy acidity, with layers of citrus, citrus oil, and subtle almond notes. It finishes with a steely, slate-like minerality.

White

2023

Mirror

Chardonnay

From Calesa Vineyard, this fruit is night-picked, whole-cluster pressed, given a two-day settle, then treated with a small sulphur adjustment before native-yeast fermentation. Some lots undergo native malolactic fermentation. Bâtonnage begins with more frequent stirring and tapers as the wine ages for 15 months in roughly 30% new French oak. It is bottled unfiltered and unfined.This is a very special Chardonnay from this site, made by Kirk Venge. It is super fragrant, with gorgeous citrus peel, impressive stony mineral tension, white flowers and beautifully integrated cedar spices, all carried by tremendous verve and tension.

White

2023

Nid Tissé

Bacigalupi Vineyard Chardonnay

This was my personal favorite of the Nid Tissé wines from 2023 that I sampled. I love the Russian River Valley richness it exudes — richness balanced by real tension. Beautifully pure and attractive lemon notes appear in all forms: lemon peel, meringue and lemon tart. A subtle kiss of toasty cedarwood mingles with all that bright citrus, interwoven with ripe orchard fruit on the palate. A long, chalky mineral finish brings everything into focus. Sourced from the famous Bacigalupi Vineyard — a site of red clay and rocky loam gravels — this Wente field selection comes from the Judgement of Paris Block. It is native-fermented with full malo and aged for 12 months in 14% new French oak, 20% clay egg, and a further three months in stainless steel before bottling.

White

2023

Nid Tissé

Bentrock Vineyard Chardonnay

The Nid Tissé Chardonnay from Bentrock Vineyard — an iconic site in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA of Santa Barbara — sits on north-facing slopes of Santa Lucia shaley clay loam and Tierra sandy loam at 152 meters. Those soils, combined with its proximity to the ocean — about nine miles as the crow flies — bring an epic salinity to the wine, which is native-fermented with full malo and no filtration, and aged 17 months in large neutral French oak on fine lees. A mere 62 cases were produced. Lemony-bright on the nose, fragrant with sea-spray salinity and chalky mineral notes, it is silky on the palate, revealing tangerine and apricot, while lime-bright acidity frames a white wine of graceful, tension-filled poise.

White

2023

Nid Tissé

Hyde Vineyard Chardonnay

From Hyde Vineyard, a famous Carneros site with Haire clay–loam soils, this is a field blend of 33-year-old Robert Young Clone and 30-year-old Wente Selection. It is native-fermented with full malo and aged for 12 months in 16% new French oak, 14% clay amphora, and a further three months in stainless steel before bottling. It is highly aromatic — stone fruit and tropical fruit melding together — with notes of apricot, banana and pineapple on a creamy palate. A fairly soft, generous and mellow rendition of this site, it makes for exceptionally easy drinking.

White

2023

Page Mill Winery

Chardonnay

A perky, mineral-driven Chardonnay sourced from the San Francisco Bay area, this elegant sipper offers notes of white peach, lemon, and a mix of green and yellow apples. The mouthfeel is almost Chablis-like, marked by chalky minerality that gives way to vibrant flavors of ripe citrus fruit. Bright, clean, and refined—an excellent example of cool-climate California Chardonnay with finesse. -JR

White

2023

Papapietro Perry

Peters Vineyard Chardonnay

The 2023 Chardonnay comes from Peters Vineyard, located just west of Sebastopol in the Russian River Valley. Barrel-fermented and aged for 11 months in 50% new French oak, it’s a richly expressive yet balanced wine. Bright acidity keeps the richer aromas and flavors—lemon, lemon curd, fennel seed, vanilla, and buttered croissant—lively and fresh. The creamy mid-palate tapers into a bone-dry finish with a lingering toasty oak note that’s undeniably sumptuous. Owned by Renae Perry and Ben and Yolanda Papapietro, and located in Healdsburg, Papapietro Perry Winery specializes in small-lot wines, sourced via long-held relationships with a handful of top local growers.

White

2023

Patz & Hall

Chardonnay

This 100% Chardonnay was aged for 10 months in 17% new Burgundian French oak barrels. A timeless, reliable classic—not just in reputation but in quality—this wine perfectly captures the balance of California richness and coastal brightness. It’s lemony and plush, with buttered brioche notes and a creamy, mouth-filling mid-palate that’s hard to resist, finishing with warm brown spices and lingering lemon oil accents. James Hall of Patz & Hall has over 35 years of experience working with some of California’s most acclaimed grape growers, focusing on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

White

2023

Patz & Hall

Dutton Ranch Chardonnay

A mix of Hyde-Wente, Robert Young, and Rued clones, this 100% Chardonnay was aged for 17 months on primary lees in Burgundian French oak barrels, 22% of which were new. It’s a beautifully rich, finely balanced Chardonnay with a silky, satiny texture and deeply layered flavors of lemon, brown butter, and lemon pastry. Elegant oak notes are seamlessly integrated, creating a harmonious and boldly expressive wine that’s an absolute joy to drink. James Hall of Patz & Hall has over 35 years of experience working with some of California’s most acclaimed grape growers, focusing on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

White

2023

Piro Wine Company

North Canyon Vineyard, Points West, Chardonnay

Wonderfully savory from the outset, this wine opens with aromas of buttered croissant, apricot jam, and orange marmalade, layered with honeysuckle blossoms. The medium-bodied palate is infused with those same golden-hued flavors, supported by a framework of subtle cherry skin tannins and delicate notes of pressed white flowers. Crushed Marcona almonds add a textured, nutty elegance to the lengthy finish.

White

2023

Plaisance Ranch

Chardonnay Papa Joe's Private Stash

The 2023 Plaisance Ranch Chardonnay is a classic. Bursting with citrus fruit and toasty oak spice, it’s medium-bodied with supple fruit and rich oak layers balanced by crisp acidity. The finish lingers with notes of salted Marcona almonds and mouthwatering salinity.

White

2023

Presqu'ile Winery

Chardonnay

Aromatically fresh and clean, this Santa Barbara County Chardonnay from Presqu’ile opens with lime zest, crisp apple, and white peach. The medium-bodied palate follows with fleshy pear and orchard fruit, supported by a subtle creaminess that adds depth without weight. A soaring line of acidity drives the wine, giving it excellent focus and lift, while the mineral finish leaves an impression of finesse.Aged for up to seven months in stainless steel with a portion in neutral barrels, the grapes are sourced from the estate vineyards and select sites around Los Alamos, and crafted under the steady hand of winemaker Dieter Cronje, who has been with the Murphy family since founding the winery in 2008.

White

2023

Pruett

Explorer Weries Unoaked Chardonnay

Fermented and aged in stainless steel with just a touch of malolactic fermentation, this Chardonnay is sourced from both the Russian River Valley and West Sonoma Coast. It’s crisp and clean, with bright citrus, apricot, and pear layered with hints of honeycomb and wildflowers. Medium-bodied, with excellent length, focused fruit, and a saline-mineral tension.

White

2023

Pruett

Reverie Reserve Chardonnay

Fermented and aged entirely in two brand-new François Frères barrels, this Chardonnay was stirred on heavy lees for 4–6 months and aged for a total of 18 months. Only 45 cases were made. With a pH of 3.59, the saline-acid tension is apparent from the very first sip and carries all the way through the lengthy finish. In between, you get a round, rich, and supple palate packed with pleasure: citrus oil, candied ginger, and beautifully integrated toasty oak. It’s refined yet generous, delivering layers of apple tarte tatin, poached pears, honeysuckle, and a lingering touch of black licorice. Talk about a Wow wine.

White

2023

Sandhi

Domaine de la Côte Chardonnay Romance

Oh my goodness—just wait until you stick your nose in the glass. As the name suggests, this Chardonnay will romance you (and fool you) into thinking it hails from Burgundy. It doesn’t—it’s pure Sta. Rita Hills—but it delivers all the elegance and tension you’d expect from France. The nose is a stunner: lemon oil, lemon zest, white peach, wet river stone, and that unmistakable crushed oyster shell sea spray character from the region’s diatomaceous-rich soils. And that’s just the beginning. On the palate, it’s broad yet focused, with saline-scented acidity underscoring layers of lemon and tangerine oil. Pressed wildflowers and mineral energy carry the finish, which seems to go on forever.

White

2023

Sean Minor

Signature Series Chardonnay

This 100% Chardonnay is sourced from several vineyards within Sonoma Carneros, including a small portion from the estate property. Aged for 10 months in French oak barrels, 20% of which were new, it’s a ripe, full-throttle, tropical-scented Chardonnay with a supple palate and toasty oak spices interlaced with baked apple and pear, all drizzled with a touch of lemon cream. Sean Minor Wines was founded in 2005 by husband-and-wife team Sean and Nicole Minor, and is still family-owned and operated. In 2023, their daughter, Elle Minor, joined the team as winemaker. Wines are made from a combination of estate fruit and fruit purchased from sustainably farmed sources throughout California.

White

2023

Six Eighty Cellars

Chardonnay Sandstone

Estate Chardonnay harvested in the early morning, with the cool fruit pressed directly and settled overnight before being transferred into Sandstone Jarre vessels—clay, stone, and terracotta—to ferment spontaneously. Fermented to dryness with full malolactic conversion, then aged eight months. I just love this Chardonnay. The aromatics evoke wet terracotta mingled with citrus and orchard fruit, and the palate is utterly lush—silky, soft, and completely mouth-filling. It’s richly textured without ever feeling heavy, the fruit remaining pure and vibrant, redolent of yellow apple and creamy pear. White floral notes add nuance, and the finish is long and lingering, carried by a lemony, oil-rich brightness. Yum.

White

2023

St. Francis Winery & Vineyards

Chardonnay

A toasty, lemony Chardonnay with a vibrant core of lemon curd, vanilla buttercream, and toasty oak carrying through the full-bodied finish. Picked in the cool early morning hours, the grapes are immediately pressed and fermented in separate lots in French oak barrels. Bâtonnage during aging no doubt contributed to its complexity and rich, luxurious mouthfeel. St. Francis Winery & Vineyards has been in operation for more than five decades, now farming over 400 acres of estate vineyards.

White

2023

TEXTBOOK

Chardonnay

This Chardonnay was aged for 11 months in 30% new French oak. It’s wonderfully fragrant, warm-spiced, and built around a luscious core of ripe orchard fruit, sharpened by salted citrus peel, ginger, allspice, and touches of dried apple and apricot, with French pastry notes carrying through a lengthy, zesty finish. TEXTBOOK was founded by Jonathan and Susan Pey , who brought in Winemaker Abigail Estrada. Estrada leans on global expertise from stints in Italy, New Zealand, Israel, and Napa Valley estates such as Markham, Domaine Chandon, and Robert Mondavi. She crafts these wines by keeping lots separate, tasting continuously throughout the year, and integrating components to achieve TEXTBOOK’s house style.

White

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Next

Vintage

Wine

Type

Color

Rating

$

2023

Producer

Name

The 2023 Simpatico Ranch Chardonnay marks a textural departure from the 2022 vintage. Whereas the 2022 was softer and suppler, the 2023 is fresher, more dynamic, and longer on the palate, with focused tension and a deeper layering of candied ginger and rich brown baking spices—almost like brown sugar spice—unfolding along the finish. Sea spray minerality carries the day, complemented by lemony citrus and tangerine zest, alongside characteristic apple blossom and nutty, spiced nuances that emerge on the lingering finish. Captivating and mouth-watering.

White

2023

Producer

Name

Totally captivating from the first sniff to the last sip, this Chardonnay opens with a burst of bright oyster shell minerality, layered with lemon zest and yellow apple that evolve into quince and ginger on the palate. Apple skin tannins lend texture and tension to this electric, acid-driven wine. Rich tangerine oil is beautifully balanced by Sta. Rita Hills’ signature lemon-lime brightness and sea spray salinity. A masterful wine—bracing yet rich, structured yet giving. Subtle hints of honeydew and honeycomb emerge on an almost everlasting finish. This should continue to develop wonderfully over the next decade, making it one to savor now or cellar with confidence.

White

2023

Producer

Name

The Bacigalupi Vineyard is planted entirely to Old Wente clone, making it an easy sourcing choice for Kenneth. He notes that the site is warmer and typically the first fruit to come in—sometimes as early as late August. In 2023, he was especially pleased with the results, having picked a bit earlier. The fruit was pressed in the crush, using whole clusters with multiple press cycles, followed by a barrel selection of the native-fermented wine, which was aged for 15 months in 25–30% new French oak. The wine shows lovely, bright lemon-driven aromatics with excellent weight and tension. There’s perhaps a hint of lychee, but the profile is predominantly saline, layered with rich lemon and lime notes. Crisp orchard fruit carries through the palate, finishing long and expressive with loads of saline mineral character and vibrant freshness.

White

2023

Producer

Name

With Durell Vineyard, Kenneth Juhasz works with the flatter section of the site near the riverbed, close to the town of Sonoma. He began working with Durell in 2008, initially producing Pinot Noir from the vineyard. This wine is whole-cluster pressed, allowing for gentler extraction from the intact clusters and resulting in greater finesse. Fermentations are native and carried out cold, with no malolactic fermentation, followed by 15 months of ageing in neutral, tight-grained, light-toast French oak. The nose is supremely elegant, offering notes of lemon, anise, and sea-spray minerality. On the palate, a lovely creamy mid-palate is supported by a core of citrus-kissed acid tension, finishing with crushed-rock minerality. The wine is both generous and refined, yet remains focused, vibrant, and precise. It is a beautiful expression of this exceptional site, owned by Three Sticks Wines founder Bill Price.

White

2023

Producer

Name

The Green Acres Vineyard bottling builds with gorgeous richness and fragrance, marked by zesty lemon and ginger, lemon oil, and a chamomile-like depth on the medium-bodied palate. A saline-driven acidity runs through the wine, carrying a subtle white pepper note and lending palpable tension throughout. The grape clusters here are notably small, likely contributing to the wine’s concentration and energy. Aged for 15 months in 30% new French oak, the oak is beautifully integrated, allowing the wine to remain balanced, focused, and vibrant from start to finish. The site, located near the town of Sonoma and owned by the Sangiacomo family, was planted in 2001 and is now more than 20 years old.

White

2023

Producer

Name

In 2023, the fruit was destemmed before pressing and crushed, followed by native fermentations carried out cold, with no malolactic fermentation. The wine was aged for 15 months in neutral oak. It is strikingly aromatic and fresh, driven by floral, fragrant notes and a distinct sea-spray character. On the palate, there’s a wonderful lemon oil richness—something Kenneth attributes to the pressing style—building alongside beautifully smooth, velvety tannins. Layers of lemon zest, orange essence, and orchard fruit unfold through the mid-palate, finishing with lingering brightness and crispness from the wine’s highly expressive acidity. Importantly, that acidity is fully integrated—never sharp or jagged—resulting in a wine that feels seamless, elegant, and refined.

White

2023

Producer

Name

In general, Kenneth Juhasz’s Chardonnay wines do not undergo malolactic fermentation. He works primarily with Old Wente Clone—virus-infected, low-yielding, and later-ripening, true Old Wente material. The grapes are night-harvested and hand-picked. Kenneth explains that it’s less about stem inclusion and more about solids and trace amounts of sulfides, which he likes. Some lots see stem inclusion, while others do not. All fermentations are carried out in barrel using tight-grained, lighter-toast oak, with roughly 20% new oak for the Sonoma Coast bottling; some single-vineyard wines see no new oak at all. Ferments are native, long, and cool, generally topping out at 55–60°F, with a bit of lees stirring. As soon as the wines are dry, he keeps them cold to inhibit malolactic conversion. He believes that when working with great sites, a great clone, and exceptional fruit, this approach yields the best results. The Sonoma Coast is a blend of several single-vineyard sites, including Durell, Green Acres, and Bacigalupi. The wine is aged for 15 months in oak prior to bottling. Because it does not undergo malolactic fermentation, he uses cross-flow filtration. The finished wine is lemony-bright, packed with energy and tension. Expressive cedarwood notes mingle with lemon and lime, alongside hints of Parmesan rind that become more embedded on the palate. Orchard fruit and citrus fruit intertwine, carried by bright crushed almond and white floral notes through the finish.

White

2023

Producer

Name

What a luscious, lovely, rich, and creamy Chardonnay — with plenty of acid verve. Delicious vanilla shows on the back palate alongside well-integrated cedarwood spice. There’s ample crunchy acidity to keep it fresh, bright, and classy. From Calesa Vineyard, 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 35% new French oak for 15 months. Bottled unfiltered and unfined.

White

2023

Producer

Name

From the Sexton Valley Vineyard in the Sebastopol Hills, this Chardonnay is whole-cluster pressed, undergoes partial malolactic fermentation, and is aged entirely in stainless steel. The result is a bright, energetic wine that’s light on its feet yet full of character. Aromas of lemon oil, lemon zest, and white flowers lead to a palate brimming with tangerine peel, crunchy kumquat skin, and vibrant acidity. The finish lingers with stony, wet minerality and subtle notes of lemon curd.

White

2023

Producer

Name

This is a light, bright, zippy Chardonnay, boasting Sonoma Coast sea-spray minerality, subtle lemon and lime citrus, white flowers, and unsalted, unroasted almonds with a touch of almond-skin grip. There’s plenty of tension to carry this medium-bodied white well into the night or through a long meal, while a hint of sea grass and vanilla rounds it all out.

White

2023

Producer

Name

Winemaker Anne Moller-Racke has worked with this fruit since 2013. She doesn’t put it through malolactic fermentation—she likes acid. She gets around four tons of a single clone and uses Montrachet plus another yeast to layer in freshness and a touch of reductive edge, with partial fermentation in concrete and one-third in new French oak. Absolutely drop-dead gorgeous Chardonnay. It’s bright, vivid, electric—full of sea-spray minerality, cool wet river stones, crushed Marcona almonds, and white-flower notes, lifted by tangerine peel and lemon verbena freshness. It’s so layered and captivating. The wine is stirred early and left on primary lees until bottling, adding fantastic baking-spice depth framed by crisp, crunchy acidity.

White

2023

Producer

Name

Sourced from Heintz Vineyard and Bootleggers Hill Vineyard. Aged 12 months sur lie in 30% new Marcel Cadet, Tonnellerie Ô, and François Frères barrels. Unfined and Unfiltered. 263 cases produced. The wine is lifted and bright, offering wildflowers and crushed almonds with a subtle hint of vanilla. Fleshy orchard fruit brings generosity to the mid-palate, while saline acidity and wet river-rock minerality frame a taut, energetic wine. The long, cool growing season proved challenging for Chardonnay, though it favored Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. I’d suggest enjoying the hell out of the 2023 Chardonnay now, while holding the 2022 and 2021—begin pulling corks on those starting in 2027 or 2028. ($100)

White

2023

Producer

Name

Sourced from Bell Summe Vineyard and Martinelli Zia Gia Vineyard. Native ferments, aged 12 months sur lie in 30% new French oak from Marcel Cadet, Tonnellerie Ô, and François Frères. Unfined and Unfiltered. The Bell Summe vineyard is pronounced like “Yummy”, and this wine blends Old Wente Clone with Montrachet Clone from Martinelli’s Zio Gia Vineyard. In the glass, it shows a bold, yummy richness and a sleek texture. Ripe orchard fruit mingles with candied lemon peel, while slick tangerine oil is brightened by oyster shell minerality. A firm spine of acidity helps support all that generous character, coming into focus on the leaner, focused finish. 107 cases produced ($100)

White

2023

Producer

Name

A straightforward Chardonnay sourced from three vineyards spanning from just south of the Russian River to the Petaluma Gap. Picked on the early side, it was barrel-fermented and aged 10 months in 14% new French oak. The wine underwent full malolactic fermentation, resulting in a soft, rounded expression of Chardonnay that still retains a bit of bite—thanks to what feels like apple or pear skin tannins. Layers of lemon, lemon curd, quince, and candied ginger unfold on the palate, accented by hints of buttered croissant drizzled with acacia honey. Bone dry and slightly tart on the finish. Produced by a small, family-run winery with a mostly Pinot-driven portfolio made at their winery and tasting room in downtown Petaluma.

White

2023

Producer

Name

From Katherine’s Vineyard in the Santa Maria Valley—owned by Katherine Jackson—this is a bold, rich, and toasty Chardonnay bursting with yellow peach, pineapple, ripe apricot, and vanilla crème brûlée, all drizzled in a creamy caramel sauce. For all its decadence, the wine remains surprisingly bright on the palate, with a warming spice richness at the core and a lengthy, juicy, slightly salty finish. You could never go wrong pairing this with one of Julia Child’s classic roast chicken dishes.

White

2023

Producer

Name

“We’re aiming for a Montrachet or Meursault style,” says Michael Browne—and this gets remarkably close. It’s electric on the palate, driven by terrific salinity and a fantastic, saline-acid grip. Lemony brightness cuts through layers of crushed Marcona almonds, green apple, and crunchy pear. There’s wonderful weight and richness, yet it stays precise, focused, and energetic throughout—totally vibrant and full of tension. That juicy acidity settles on the palate the way a good Montrachet does, but with its own lively edge. Wente clone; 12 months in concrete followed by 3 months in stainless steel, then 15 months in 38% new French oak barrels.