With a few years of age, this has turned into a wonderful balance between generosity and freshness. Has all the hallmarks of great Sonoma Coast Chardonnay—bright fruit, a touch of honeycomb with a firm core.
VINEYARD
The Chardonnay at La Cruz Vineyard sits on a hillside that overlooks the Petaluma River, a few miles southeast of the town of Petaluma. It’s a late ripening site and the vines are small. Recently converted to organic farming in an effort to boost soil health. The harvest comes late here, around the end of September/beginning of October most years. The Wente selection of Chardonnay here is considered by many winemakers to be the best of the many Chardonnay selections available—small clustered, low yielding, concentrated flavors.
WINEMAKING
Whole cluster fruit is sent through just the rollers on a destemmer to break up the bunches and begin extraction before splitting the wine in half between oak and concrete. After time in each vessel, the wines are swapped so that all wine sees both materials. Native yeast is used for both primary and naturally occurring malolactic fermentation with use of battonage. Fermented and aged in a combination of concrete eggs and neutral oak barrels.
VINTAGE
2016 was a good year to be a grapevine, after four years of drought the winter finally gave up a bit of rain. The growing season, although somewhat warm and early, was forgiving as the fruit came in the door in excellent shape across the board. After the lower yields of the previous vintage, it was nice to have a good amount of fruit to work with.
Vintage: 2016
Wine Type: White, Still, Dry
Farming: Biodynamic
Varietal: 100% Chardonnay, Clone 4, Wente
Vineyard: La Cruz Vineyard
Appellation: Petaluma Gap, Sonoma Coast
Winemaker: Byron Kosuge
93 Points
A beautiful garnet color in the glass. Aromas of pomegranate, vibrant cranberry, candied strawberry, gravel, and rose perfume lead to a palate of cinnamon, clove, tea leaf, bing cherry, a touch of earth, and an opulent, fleshy texture.
95 Points
This stellar Napa Valley Red Blend marries lush plum and cherry with Malbec's dark berry depth and Petit Verdot's structure and spice. Layered with notes of blackberry, violet, and cocoa, this silky wine finishes with smooth tannins and a whisper of toasted oak. Robust and mouth-filling, with spicy nuances, smooth tannins, firm structure, and a long lingering finish.
94 Points
Aromas of candied apple, lemon peel, and toasted marcona almond. The palate is rich yet finely balanced, offering a creamy texture lifted by bright acidity. Delicate and composed, it finishes with a gentle mineral snap and lingering citrus.
97 Points
Rich dark fruit flavors of blackberry and cherry with notes of baking spices, licorice, coffee, and chocolate that interlace seamlessly with complexity, creating a wine that is both structured and delightfully supple, achieving an ideal balance of tension and grace. Artfully composed of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon with 17% Cabernet Franc, resulting in harmonious depth and freshness.
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