2017 Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast, WestLands

The high, natural acidity from the cool west Sonoma Coast is the crucial element that allowed this Chardonnay to age so beautifully. This structure provided the necessary counterpoint to the French oak, ensuring the wine developed complexity—not heaviness—in the bottle. It now shows the desirable tertiary notes of a mature, fine Chardonnay, including a rich texture, integrated minerality, and a long, seamless finish that is the signature of patience. Bring this to your next gathering as an example of how beautifully a Chardonnay can age.  It’s a stunner!

Winemaker’s Notes

The 2017 vintage was an excellent one — well-balanced with moderate yields due to a heat spike later in the season. We were very fortunate to have picked all of our fruit prior to the October 2017 North Bay Fires, so the widespread devastation did not affect our wines. The defining characteristic that enabled this Chardonnay’s exceptional aging was the balance of ripeness and acidity achieved before the late-season heat. The cool maritime influence allowed for the development of complex flavor precursors in the grapes while retaining crucial natural acid levels. This tension—the richness provided by the French oak and the vibrant, retained acidity—is the architecture of a great library wine. This harmonious stability protected the wine through its cellar life, allowing the creamy oak notes to integrate perfectly with the citrus core, yielding a Chardonnay that is both opulent yet still lifted.

“From cool-climate vineyards west of Sebastopol, this white is floral in jasmine and earthy, with fresh focused acidity. Apple, citrus and wet stone combine for a light, bright and effusive experience that finishes lushly in oak.” ~ Virginie Boone, Wine Enthusiast  2020

The Vineyard

Our WestLands Chardonnay espresses the essence of the West Sonoma Coast. It is barrel-selected from our favorite vineyards west of Sebastopol. All the vineyards used for this wine are in close proximity to each other and are within 10 miles of the Pacific Ocean. Maritime influence slows the ripening process dramatically, promoting the concentration of minerals and maintaining those high, age-worthy acid levels. This cool, wind-swept environment ensures the Chardonnay has the necessary structural intensity to sustain its flavor and texture over many years in the bottle.