94 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
94 Points - International Wine Report
92 Points - Wine Spectator
Very excited to share this. We have just a small quantity.
Vineyards
The Sojourn Durell Vineyard Chardonnay is a made from 100% Old Wente clone from two blocks of the famous Durell Vineyard. The Hill block was planted in the 90s and gives very low yields of small clusters. These small bunches provide extraordinary flavors, complexity, and texture. The Barn block's younger vines were planted in 2009 and they are still only producing small amounts of fruit with concentrated, lively, and exotic characteristics.
Vintage
The 2020 Durell Vineyard grapes were harvested on two separate nights in late August and fermented separately in a combination of new and used French oak barrels. Yields were tiny. The lower block offered minerality and focus, with nice acidity while the hill block added expressive fruit flavors and full body. The resulting wine has robust flavors, rich texture on the palate with fresh acidity on the finish.
Analysis
Vineyard: Durell Vineyard
Appellation: Sonoma Coast
Varietal Composition: 100% Chardonnay
Fermentation: French Oak barrels 85% Malolactic Fermentation, Native Yeast
Aging: 40% New French Oak
pH: 3.37 TA: 6.0 g/L
Bottled Unfined August 2021
Cases Produced: 400
Alcohol: 14.3%
98 Points, Best of Class
Super-Tuscan style blend offering aromas of ripe berries and black fruits, interwoven with hints of vanilla, caramel, raw tobacco, leather, clove, blood orange peel, and roasted walnuts. Rich and generous flavors of briary blackberry, dark cherry, ripe plum and cassis.
Modern, Sexy & Full
Aromas of wild blackberries and blueberries interwoven with enchanting notes of fresh mint, lavender, roasted walnut, savory spices, and a captivating hint of dark chocolate drizzled with fine balsamic. Notes of plum, blueberry and cassis with hints of wild sage, licorice, black pepper, and an elegant touch of fine-grained oak.
Plush & Velvety
Aromas of wild berries are interlaced with nuances of fresh lavender, dark chocolate truffle, baking spices, and cigar box, with generous flavors of ripe blackberry, blueberry, dark cherry and fresh currants are layered with hints of cocoa, cassis, allspice, and wild sage.