2021 Skycrest Vineyard Chardonnay, Anderson Valley

We *know* this ridgeline way above Boonville. Have walked it, worked it, got our cars stuck atop it. From the western end of this craggy ridge, we bottled 10-vintages of Demuth Vineyard chardonnay...until those old vines were torn out. From the eastern end of it, we discovered another kingdom of chardonnay by the name of Skycrest. Our friend Mario (who has been farming vineyards in the AV for 30+ years) farms our  blocks entirely by-hand. At 2500 feet up, it's the Anderson Valley's highest elevation vineyard. Pushing out of fractured grey shale and decomposed sandstone with veins of quartz crystal, it ripens 2-3 weeks later than the rest of the valley. It’s constantly in the wind, making flowering difficult, the berries small, and the yields low.

Skycrest sips more alpine, than simply mountain-born.  It's sleek and restrained at the moment, but with airing reveals a kaleidoscope of aromas and flavors—spring pear, pressed white flower, petrichor, Meyer lemon, tamarind, and tarragon. We’d pair this next to a bowl of steamed clams with butter or a plate of Pankio crusted chicken cutlets with a generous squeeze of fresh lemon.

AROMA

ppring pear, magnolia flower, petrichor

FLAVOR

meyer lemon, tamarind, fresh tarragon

FOOD PAIRINGS

scalloped potatoes, steamer clams with drawn butter, panko-fried chicken