This is a SUPERB Chardonnay with a great vineyard and winemaking pedigree... not surprising we only got a small quantity. Happy days indeed!
Wine Spectator Magazine
Besides the best price you will ever see of course, consulting winemaker Kent Humphrey has been written up as "Wine Spectator's Top 30 Producers" for his own label (getting crazy accolades vintage after vintage)! Fruit from a great vineyard + amazing winemaker = downright recipe for success.
Vineyard
Grapes were picked from Sangiacomo Vineyard, well known for growing ultra-premium Chardonnay throughout Sonoma County. With the majority in the nearby Petaluma Gap and the Sonoma Coast region, select wineries source fruit from this premium grower and make exceptional wines.
Winemaking
Grapes were picked in the cool early morning hours, and immediately to press the delicate fruit and chilled to preserve freshness. 100% barrel fermented for 9 months in French oak barrels, of which 25% was new to add complexity & richness. Extended malolactic fermentation fine-tuned the body and perfected the mouth feel.
Stats
Appellation: Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County
Vineyard: Sangiacomo Vineyard
Varietal Composition: 100% Chardonnay
Aging: 9 Months in 100% French Oak, 25% New
pH: 3.38 TA: 7.2 g/L
Alcohol: 14.2%
94 Points
Opens up with an aromatic burst of black cherry jam, wild huckleberry, and a hint of crushed espresso bean. On the palate, the fruit is lush and primary, but it's the secondary notes—toasted nutmeg, dark chocolate truffle, and the signature 'Dry Creek Dust'—that provide a long, savory finish.