Russian River Valley

Vintage Notes

The 2021 vintage showcased the advantages of growing grapes on the coast in a drought year. Where some parts of the state were abnormally warm, the coast remained moderate and stable, allowing for winemaking-through-farming. We were able to carefully manage tonnage and let the fruit hang precisely as long as we wished, developing full phenolic ripeness while still preserving the acidic quality that is so characteristic of the coast. Of course, drought means less water, but the lack of severe heat days on the coast meant the vines, though water-stressed, were not overly so. Overall, look forward to a banner year for Pinot and Chardonnay, with wines that will be bright, concentrated, and age-worthy.

Winemaker Notes

“The 2020 Chardonnay Russian River Valley springs from the glass with notes of fresh grapefruit, white peaches, and Bosc pears with hints of honeysuckle, lime blossom, and beeswax. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has fantastic satiny texture and wonderful freshness supporting the bright, crunchy fruit, finishing with a gingery kick. The fruit came mainly from Bush Vineyard this year, near Dutton Ranch. 2019 was the first year getting fruit from here, so the team are still testing it out on this label. The clones are mainly Old Wente and some Hyde.”

– 93pts, Lisa Perrotti-Brown